TR4.1184 Ănd áftĕr thís, wĭth stérne ănd crúĕl hértĕ,
TR4.1185 Hĭs swérd ănón ŏut óf hĭs shéthe hĕ twíghtĕ
TR4.1186 Hy̆msélf tŏ slén, hŏw sórĕ thát hy̆m smértĕ,
TR4.1187 Sŏ thát hĭs sóule hĭre sóulĕ fólwĕn mýghtĕ
TR4.1188 Thĕr ás thĕ dóom ŏf Mýnŏs wólde ĭt díghtĕ,
TR4.1189 Sy̆n Lóve ănd crúĕl Fórtŭne ít nĕ wóldĕ
TR4.1190 Thăt ín thĭs wórld hĕ léngĕr lývĕn shóldĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): And after this, with stern and cruel heart, he at once pulled his sword out of its scabbard to kill himself, however agonizing the pain, so that his soul might follow her soul wherever the judgement of Minos would dispose of it, since Love and cruel Fortune would not have it that he should live any longer in this world.
• Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): この後、厳粛で無慈悲な気持になって、すぐに剣を鞘から抜いた。どんなに苦痛を覚えようとも、自ら命を絶つために、彼の魂が彼女の魂の後を追ってミーノースの裁決が定める所どこでも行けるようにと。どうせ＜愛の神＞と残酷な＜運命の女神＞はこの世でもっと長く生きることを望まれないだろうから。
• Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 然后，怀着坚硬的心，拔出刀来准备自刎，不顾任何痛苦，一心只想让自己的灵魂去听候冥府的法官发落，以便跟随着她而去；反正爱情和残忍的命运已不由他在世上久留了。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: sterne
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 4.120
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: seat of the emotions (Troilus’s heart)
• 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

fierce, cruel, pitiless

Comments from the Editor

The two lovers initially meet after the parliament decides to exchange Criseyde for Antenor. Criseyde faints from grief, and Troilus suspects she is dead. He straightens her body—as people do with a dead body—and decides to commit suicide.

Minos is the judge of the dead.