TR1.1002 “Ěnsámplě whý, sě nów thǐse wísě clérkěs,
TR1.1003 Thǎt érrěn álděrmóst ǎyéyn ǎ láwě,
TR1.1004 Ǎnd bén cǒnvértěd fróm hǐre wíkkěd wérkěs
TR1.1005 Thǒrǔgh gráce ǒf Gód thǎt líst hěm tó hy̌m dráwě,
TR1.1006 Thǎnne árn thǐse fólk thǎt hán mǒost Gód ǐn áwě,
TR1.1007 Ǎnd stréngěst féythěd bén, Ǐ úndǐrstóndě,
TR1.1008 Ǎnd kónne ǎn érrǒwr álděrbést wǐthstóndě.”

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): For example: consider these wise scholars who err most of all against a law and are converted from their wicked deeds through the grace of God, who is pleased to draw them to him—these are people who are then most in awe of God, and strongest in the faith, I understand, and can best of all withstand a mistaken belief.’
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): たとえば、さあ、この賢い学徒たちの例を御覧なさい、彼らはとりわけ神の掟に背きますが、彼らを御身のもとに引き寄せようとなさる神の恩寵のおかげで、よこしまな行ないから改心します。それから、この人たちは神を最も畏怖し、信仰に最も篤くなると、そう理解しております。そして何よりも誤った信仰に抵抗できる人たちとなります。」
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 正如那些圣教之徒，违犯了教规，在宽厚的上帝面前悔罪，痛改前非，重入恩神的怀抱，于是他们成为最虔敬的信士，竟能摒弃一切罪恶，做世人最崇高的楷模。”

Word Information

• Etymology: From the phrase strong feith
• Addresser: Pandarus
• Addressee: Troilus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: (Quoted) 1. As the second element in parasynthetic compounds: having religious faith of the specified intensity or quality, as feeble-faithed, strong-faithed, etc.; (also) that has a faith or religion of a specified type, as strange faithed, etc. (s.v. faithed, adj.)
• MED: (Quoted) 1. strengest faithed, having the strongest religious faith. (s.v. feithed, ppl.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 46): strengest feythed: of strongest faith
• Fisher (1989: 416): strengest feythed ben: are strongest of faith
• Benson (1987: 487): strengest feythed: strongest in the faith
• Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) strongest in faith (s.v. strengest-feythed, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975: 746): strengest faithed: most strongly faithful
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

strengest ~: strongest in faith

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus wishes Troilus will be the most faithful believer in love. For love’s effect in ennobling lovers, refer to 1.1076–85, 3.24–6, and 1772–1806.