cruel adj.

2022-07-26 cruel

TR3.1695 Bŭt crúĕl dáy -- sŏ wáilăwáy thĕ stóundĕ! --
TR3.1696 Găn fór t’ăpróche, ăs théy by̆ sýgnĕs knéwĕ,
TR3.1697 Fŏr whích hĕm thóughtĕ féelĕn déthĭs wówndĕ.
TR3.1698 Sŏ wó wăs hém thăt cháungĕn gán hĭre héwĕ,
TR3.1699 Ănd dáy thĕy gónnĕn tó dĕspíse ăl néwĕ,
TR3.1700 Cálly̆ng ĭt tráitŏur, énvy̆óus, ănd wórsĕ,
TR3.1701 Ănd bíttĕrlý thĕ dáyĕs líght thĕi córsĕ.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): But cruel day—alas the time!—began to approach, as they knew by the signs, at which they seemed to feel the wound of death. They were so unhappy that their colour changed, and they started to revile day once more, calling it ‘traitor’, ‘envious’, and worse, and they bitterly cursed the light of day.
Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): しかし不人情な朝が――ああ、ああ、時よ！――近づいてきた、彼らは夜明けの兆候によって知った。そのため致命傷を受けたように感じ、悲しみのあまり、顔色が変わってしまった。そして彼らは朝を新たに悪く言い始めた、朝を、裏切り者、嫉妬持ちと、さらに悪く呼び、朝の光をひどくののしった。
Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 残忍的白昼，煞是可恨，看着又逐渐逼近；他俩好似感到受了致命的伤痛一般；满心的尤苦使得脸上变色，喊着嫉妒的白日，奸犯，以及更恶劣的名称，咒诅着破晓的晨光。

Word Information

Etymology: OF
Addresser: Narrator
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 3.70
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: day and night (day)
Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

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

causing suffering or harm

Comments from the Editor

This scene follows Fil.3.70. Troiolo and Criseida also cursed the day, but detailed names they called, i.e. ‘traitor’ and ‘envious’, are added by Chaucer. As for Troilus’s curse on the light of day, in the morning after their consummation, see my comment of ‘bright’ (adj., Tr3.1453).