TR2.456 Ănd thóughtĕ thús: “Ŭnháppĕs fállĕn thíkkĕ
TR2.457 Ăldáy fŏr lóve, ănd ín swy̆ch mánerĕ cás
TR2.458 Ăs mén bĕn crúĕl ín hĕmsélf ănd wíkkĕ;
TR2.459 Ănd íf thĭs mán slĕ hére hy̆msélf -- ăllás! --
TR2.460 Ĭn mý prĕsénce, ĭt wól bĕ nó sŏlás.
TR2.461 Whăt mén wŏlde óf hĭr déme Ĭ kán năt séyĕ;
TR2.462 Ĭt nédĕth mé fŭl sléighly̆ fór tŏ pléiĕ.”

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): and thought to herself like this: ‘Unfortunate things happen thick and fast all the time because of love, and especially in such kinds of situation as this, where men themselves can be cruel and wicked. And if this man should kill himself here—alas!—right in front of me, it will be no laughing matter. What people would think about it, I can’t say. I need to play a very sly game.’
• Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): こう思った。「愛には不運が絶え間なくよく起こるものだわ。そしてこのような場合には、男の人たちはすさんで自分自身に残酷で邪悪になるはず。もしもこの人がわたしの面前で自殺でもしたら、ああ！慰められず顔向けできないでしょう。世間の人がどう思うか分かったものじゃないわ。用心して行動する必要があるわ。」
• Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 暗想道，“情场中随时都有不幸的遭遇，男子们往往会丧失了意志；万一这个人就在我面前寻了短见，岂不糟了。那样的话，人们将对我作何感想呢：我还得小心应付才是。”

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Criseyde
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: wikke (wick)
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: men)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

• 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

fierce, cruel

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus threatens Criseyde to accept Troilus and pretends to leave. Criseyde, who is scared, stops him and begins to compromise. Her speech reveals that she really thinks it possible that Pandarus will kill himself in front of her. The narrator describes Criseyde as ‘the most timid person that might be’ (2.450–1), who is ‘incredibly frightened’ (2.456) and ‘nearly dying for fear’ (2.449). Criseyde is subsequently described as a victim in front of Pandarus, her own uncle.