cold adj.

2022-07-25 cold

TR1.519 “Bŭt, Ó thŏw wófŭl Tróĭlús, Gŏd wóldĕ,
TR1.520 Sĭth thów mŏst lóven thŏrúgh thĭ déstĭné,
TR1.521 Thăt thów bĕsét wĕre ón swĭch óon thăt shóldĕ
TR1.522 Knŏw ál thĭ wó, ăl lákkĕd hír pĭtée!
TR1.523 Bŭt álsŏ cóld ĭn lóve tŏwárdĕs thé
TR1.524 Thĭ lády̆ ís ăs fróst ĭn wýntĕr móonĕ,
TR1.525 Ănd thów fŏrdón ăs snów ĭn fíre ĭs sóonĕ.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): But O, you unhappy Troilus, since you must love because of your destiny, would to God that you were bestowed on someone that knew about all your unhappiness, even if she lacked pity! But your lady is as cold towards you in love as frost beneath a winter moon, and you are done for, as snow soon is in fire!
Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): しかし、ああ、気の毒に、悲しみのトロイルスよ、お前はどうしても恋をしなければならない運命だから、願わくは、哀れみはないが、せめてお前の悲しみをすべて知るような、女性を授けられんことを。しかしお前の意中の人は、お前に対して、冬の日の霜の如くに、恋に冷たい。お前は火の中の雪のように、間もなく駄目になる。
Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): “‘呀，可怜的特罗勒斯，爱既成了你的命运，愿上天让你看中一位能明白知道你的一切悲哀的人，那管她没有丝毫怜悯的心：可是你的意中人对于你的热情是冷淡的，好比冬月照着冰霜，而你却像火里的雪，融化得很快。’

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Troilus
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 1.53
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: attitude (Criseyde’s attitude to Troilus)
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: (Quoted) 4. Of persons, the heart: lacking warmth of feeling, devotion, desire, etc.; cold of love, apathetic, indifferent; ~ of kinde, phlegmatic by nature; kinde-cold, lacking passion; fallen ~, waxen ~, become disconsolate or distressed. (s.v. cold, adj.)

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003): N/A
Fisher (1989): N/A
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975): N/A
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

lacking enthusiasm, desire; apathetic, indifferent

Comments from the Editor

The once proud Troilus—who laughed at the lovers—is now struck in the trap of love himself. This quotation follows Fil.1.53; however, there are slight differences. Troiolo describes Criseida as a stone, feeling nothing about his love, and compares her attitude to ice under a clear sky. However, Chaucer’s Troilus does not use the simile of stone and compares Criseyde’s attitude to frost beneath a winter moon.