TR5.1807 Ănd whán thăt hé wăs sláyn ĭn thís mănérĕ,
TR5.1808 Hĭs líghtĕ góost fŭl blísfŭllý ĭs wént
TR5.1809 Ŭp tó thĕ hólŭghnésse ŏf the éighthĕ spérĕ,
TR5.1810 Ĭn cónvĕrs léty̆ng éverĭch élĕmént;
TR5.1811 Ănd thér hĕ sáugh wĭth fúl ăvýsĕmént
TR5.1812 The ĕrrátĭk stérrĕs, hérkeny̆ng ármŏnýĕ
TR5.1813 Wĭth sównĕs fúl ŏf héveny̆ssh mélŏdíĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And when he was thus slain, his weightless spirit ascended most blissfully up to the concave inner surface of the eighth sphere of the heavens, leaving every planetary sphere behind him on the reverse side, and there he saw with unimpeded vision the wandering stars, while hearkening to the harmony of sounds full of celestial melody.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 彼はこのようにして殺された時、彼の軽い魂は第八天の凹面の中空へと、反対側にあるあらゆる惑星の天球を後にしながら、大変幸せそうに昇って行った。そこにおいて天のメロディに満ちた妙音を聞きながら、遊行する星々をつくづく眺めた。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 他被杀之后，轻捷的灵魂十分庆幸地上升八重天，他下临四空；许久他停视那游荡的星辰，倾听天乐的谐音。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF&L
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: heavenly body (the planets)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: (Quoted) A. adj. Wandering; prone to wander. 1. First used in certain special applications: †a. erratic star n. Obsolete a planet (s.v. erratic, adj. and n.)
• MED: (Quoted) 1. erratik sterre, sterre erratik, a wandering star, a planet (s.v. erratī̆k, adj. & n.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 345): erratik sterres: wandering stars (the seven planets)
• Fisher (1989: 532): erratyk sterres: wandering stars
• Benson (1987: 584): erratik sterres: wandering stars (i.e. the seven planets)
• Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) ~ sterres: wandering stars, planets (s.v. erratik, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975: 997): erratik: wandering
• Baugh (1963: 210): The erratik sterres: the seven planets

Possible Definitions

~ sterres: wandering stars

Comments from the Editor

Lines 5.1807–27 are borrowed from Teseida, 11.1–3 (a part omitted from the KnT) in which Boccaccio describes the death of Arcita and the ascent of his soul.

See also my comment of ‘blind’ (adj., Tr5.1824).