TR4.974 “Fŏr sóm mĕn séyn, ĭf Gód sĕth ál bĭfórn -- TR4.975 Nĕ Gód măy nát dĕcéyvĕd bén, părdé -- TR4.976 Thăn móot ĭt fállĕn, théigh mĕn hádde ĭt swórn, TR4.977 Thăt púrvĕiánce hăth séyn bĕfóre tŏ bé. TR4.978 Whĕrfóre Ĭ séy, thăt fróm ĕtérne ĭf hé TR4.979 Hăth wíst by̆fórn ŏure thóught ĕk ás ŏure dédĕ, TR4.980 Wĕ hán nŏ fré chŏis, ás thĭse clérkĕs rédĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): For some men say if God sees everything before—and God cannot be deceived, indeed!—then that which providence has foreseen to be must happen, though men had sworn to the contrary. Therefore I say that if from eternity He has foreknown our thoughts and our deeds as well, we have no free choice, as these scholars advise.
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): ある人たちは言っている、神がすべてを予見し――また神が絶対に誤らないならば――その時、人は反対を誓ったとしても、摂理がこうなると予見したことが起こるに違いないと。だから、おれは言いたい、未来永劫、神がわれわれの考え、同様にわれわれ行為を予知しているとすれば、これらの学者たちの言うように自由の選択を持てないと。Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 有人说，上帝如果预知一切，而上帝当然不至受欺，那么预定的一切都必然实现，虽然人们发誓违抗也不可能。他既从永恒中已知道了我们的思想与行为，那么正如学者所言，我们就没有选择的自由。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Troilus
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: will (choice)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: (Quoted) 1c. (d) theol. not predestined; ~ choice (eleccioun), choice uncontrolled by predestination; ~ wil (arbitracioun, arbitri), free will, freedom of the will; ~ bitiding, unpredestined happening, free occurrence (s.v. frẹ̄, adj.)
- 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
unrestricted; not predestined
Comments from the Editor
See my comment of ‘certain’ (adj., Tr4.1012).