cruel adj.

2022-07-26 cruel

TR5.1681 “Whŏ shál nŏw trówe ŏn ány̆ óthĕs mó?
TR5.1682 Ăllás, Ĭ néverĕ wólde hăn wénd, ĕr thís,
TR5.1683 Thăt yé, Crĭséydĕ, kóude hăn cháungĕd só;
TR5.1684 Nĕ, bút Ĭ hádde ăgílt ănd dón ămýs,
TR5.1685 Sŏ crúĕl wénde Ĭ nóught yŏure hérte, y̆wís,
TR5.1686 Tŏ slé mĕ thús! Ăllás, yŏure náme ŏf tróuthĕ
TR5.1687 Ĭs nów fŏrdón, ănd thát ĭs ál my̆ róuthĕ.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): Who will ever believe in oaths again? Alas, I would never have supposed, before this, that you Criseyde, could have changed so, nor—unless I had offended and acted wrongly—did I believe your heart could be so cruel, indeed, to kill me like this! Alas, your reputation for faithfulness is now destroyed, and this is the reason for all my grief.
Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): これから誰がもう誓いを信じようか。クリセイデよ、君がこんなに変わろうなんて、ああ、これ以前には、おれは想像だにしなかったものだ。また、おれが罪を犯したり過ちをしたりしたならば別だが、君の心はおれをこのように殺しかねないほど残酷とは、もちろん、思わなかった！ああ、君の誠実という名声は今や傷ついた、それがおれには残念でたまらない。
Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): 谁还能相信什么盟誓呢？我从未想到克丽西德竟能这样负心，也未知道你的心竟会这样残酷，难道我犯了什么罪过，因而你要这样致我于死地！啊，你那坚贞的美名从此丧失了，这真叫我伤心。

Word Information

Etymology: OF
Addresser: Troilus
Addressee: Criseyde
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 8.13
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: seat of the emotions (Criseyde’s heart)
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, pitiless

Comments from the Editor

Troilus now confirms that Criseyde has betrayed him. This quotation follows Fil.8.13; however, in this stanza, Troiolo additionally states that no one will ever believe in any oath, any love or any woman when he looks well to Criseida’s treacherous lying. However, Chaucer only applies ‘any oath’ and omitted ‘any love’ and ‘any woman’.