fair adj.

2022-08-26 fair

TR2.743 “Nĕ mé tŏ lóve, ă wóndĕr ís ĭt nóught;
TR2.744 Fŏr wél wŏot Í my̆sélf, sŏ Gód mĕ spédĕ --
TR2.745 Ăl wólde Ĭ thát nŏon wístĕ óf thĭs thóught --
TR2.746 Ĭ ám óon thĕ fáirĕste, óut ŏf drédĕ,
TR2.747 Ănd góodlĭéstĕ, whó thăt tákĕth hédĕ,
TR2.748 Ănd só mĕn séyn, ĭn ál thĕ tówn ŏf Tróiĕ.
TR2.749 Whăt wóndĕr ís thŏugh hé ŏf mé hăve jóyĕ?

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): Nor is it a surprise that I am loved; for I’m well aware myself, God help me—although I wouldn’t want anyone to know of this thought—that, for anyone who has eyes to see, I’m undoubtedly the most beautiful, and the finest, in the whole city of Troy, so people do say. What wonder is it if he’s pleased with me?
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): わたしが愛されるのは無理もないことだわ。だってわたし自身よく分かっていますもの、神かけて、こんな思い上がりを誰にも知られたくないけれど、どなたが気に留めようと、トロイアの町中で、疑いの余地なく、わたしはとりわけ一番美しく、最も気立てのよい女ですもの、そして人びとはそう噂しているわ。若様がわたしを見てお喜びになってもどんな不思議がありましょう。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): “他爱上我，并不稀奇；我很知道我自己，上天佑我，人们也看得出我本来是一个最美，最善的女子，特罗亚城中都有这样的口气；不过我自己虽有这个想头，却不愿被人知道了。他喜爱我，又算得了什么稀罕的事？

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Criseyde
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: goodlieste
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 2.69
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female: Criseyde)
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

beautiful, handsome, attractive

Comments from the Editor

Criseyde describes herself as the “faireste” and “goodlieste” and she says twice (2.743, 749) that it is no wonder that anyone, including Troilus, should fall in love with her.

Chaucer’s Criseyde is slightly different to Criseida in Fil.2.69 Criseida uses seven adjectives, namely, giovane (young), bella (beautiful), vaga (charming), lieta (joyful), ricca (wealthy), nobile (noble), and amata (beloved) to describe herself. She also mentions that she is a vedova (widow) who is sanza figliuoli (without children). Although Criseida employs more adjectives, she uses all of them to emphasize that she is qualified to love someone rather than prove that it is inevitable that Troiolo loves her. Chaucer, on the other hand, reduces the adjectives to the two superlatives and creates a more vainglorious heroine.