fair adj.

  fair
TR3.1275 Ănd thérwĭthál Crĭséyde ănón hĕ kístĕ,
TR3.1276 Ŏf whích cĕrtéin shĕ féltĕ nó dĭsésĕ,
TR3.1277 Ănd thús sĕyde hé: “Nŏw wóldĕ Gód Ĭ wístĕ,
TR3.1278 My̆n hértĕ swétĕ, hów Ĭ yów my̆ght plésĕ!
TR3.1279 Whăt mán,” quŏd hé, “wăs éverĕ thús ăt ésĕ
TR3.1280 Ăs Í, ŏn whích thĕ fáirĕste ánd thĕ béstĕ
TR3.1281 Thăt évĕre Í săy déyneth hĭre hértĕ réstĕ?

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And with that he at once kissed Criseyde, at which she certainly felt no distress, and so he said:‘Now would to God I knew, my sweet heart, how I might please you! What man,’ said he, ‘was ever so content as I, on whom the fairest and the best I ever saw deigns to settle her heart’s affections?
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): そう言ってすぐにクリセイデにキスをしたが、それについてきっと彼女は不愉快を感じなかったであろう。さらに彼はこう言った。「愛しい人よ、どうやれば君を喜ばせることができるか知りたいものだなあ!今までおれほど満足した者がいるだろうか、今まで見たことがないほどの才色兼備の人がおれに情愛をそそいでくれるのだから。
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 他这时吻着克丽西德,她觉得十分舒畅。“我愿上天启示我,最甜蜜的心,”他续道,“我愿知道如何取得你的欢心!谁会有过我这样的幸福,天下最完美的女郎已把她的心交了给我。

Word Information

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

Troilus stresses that he is humbler in this love with Criseyde, making it more like courtly love.