fair adj.

2022-08-26 fair

TR1.813 “Whǎt shólde bě thérfǒre fállěn ín dǐspáyr,
TR1.814 Ǒr bé rěcréant fór hǐs ówně téně,
TR1.815 Ǒr slén hy̌msélf, ǎl bé hǐs lády̌ fáir?
TR1.816 Nǎy, náy, bǔt évere ǐn óon bě fréssh ǎnd gréně
TR1.817 Tǒ sérve ǎnd lóve hǐs déerě hértěs quéeně,
TR1.818 Ǎnd thýnk ǐt ís ǎ guérdǒn híre tǒ sérvě,
TR1.819 Ǎ thóusǎnd fóld móore thǎn hě kán děsérvě.”

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): What? Should he fall into despair about that, or admit defeat because of his own vexation, or kill himself, even though his lady be beautiful? No, no, but be always fresh and eager to serve and love the dear queen of his heart, and think that to serve her is a reward a thousand times greater than he can deserve!’
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): だからといってどうして絶望に陥ったり、自分自身の深い悲しみのために臆病になったり、かの君はたとえ美しくとも、どうして自殺すべきでしょうか。いや、いや、常に新鮮で元気潑溂にして女王と思う大事な人に仕え愛してください。そしてそのお方に仕えることは身のほど千倍以上の報いであることをお考えください。」
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 难道这种人就此失望了？畏难而退吗？不管她恁般美丽就自杀吗？不然，不然，他仍照样新鲜快活，照样侍候着他心爱的女后，只要能有奉侍她的机缘就是一生之幸，就认为千倍于他应得的酬赏。”

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Pandarus
Addressee: Troilus
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female)
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: Not quoted

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 38): al be his lady fair: even though his lady be beautiful
Fisher (1989): N/A
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975): N/A
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

beautiful, handsome, attractive

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘dere’ (adj., Tr1.817).