TR5.1338 “Yŏw fírst bĭséche Ĭ, thát yŏure éyĕn clérĕ
TR5.1339 Tŏ lóke ŏn thís dĕfóulĕd yé năt hóldĕ;
TR5.1340 Ănd óver ăl thís, thăt yé, my̆ lády̆ déerĕ,
TR5.1341 Wŏl vóuchĕsáuf thĭs léttrĕ tó by̆hóldĕ;
TR5.1342 Ănd bý thĕ cáuse ĕk óf my̆ cárĕs cóldĕ
TR5.1343 Thăt sléth my̆ wít, ĭf áught ămýs m’ăstértĕ,
TR5.1344 Fŏryéve ĭt mé, my̆n ówĕn swétĕ hértĕ!

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): ‘I first beg you that you do not consider your bright eyes defiled by gazing upon this; and moreover that you, my dear lady, will agree to peruse this letter. And if I let anything amiss slip out, because my chill sorrows are overcoming my understanding — forgive me for it, my own sweet heart!
• Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): まずお願いいたしますが、この手紙を読むとせっかくの澄んだ瞳が汚されるなどと考えないでください。その上、わが愛しい恋人よ、この手紙をどうか熟読してください。失意のために知恵が回らなくなっていますので、もし何かまずいことがここから漏れ出ていますれば、わが美しい恋人よ、それに対してはお許しください。
• Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 让我先恳求你，勿以读此辛酸的字句认为有辱于你的尊眼；亲爱的女郎，我愿你赐恩，将这信从头看到底。假如因我愁郁于心而神志不清，以致用错了字眼，请你宽容我，甜蜜的心。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Troilus (in his letter)
• Addressee: Criseyde
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 7.54)
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: external parts of body (eyes)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 325): Yow first biseche I, that youre eyen clere To loke on this defouled ye nat holde: First I beg you that you do not consider (holde) your bright eyes defiled by looking at this (letter)
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963: 203): that youre eyen clere To loke on this, defouled ye nat holde: that you do not consider your eyes defiled by looking on this

Possible Definitions

bright; beautiful

Comments from the Editor

Chaucer follows Boccaccio in writing Troilus this letter, yet, although Troiolo clearly blames Criseida (see, for example, 7.54) for breaking their promise, Chaucer omits such statements. Instead, Chaucer’s Troilus emphasises his sadness and repeatedly mentions that he will die (see 5.1393, 1400, 1407, 1410, 1413) if without Criseyde.