fre adj.

  fre
TR5.1401 “Ǐwís, my̌ne óweně déerě hértě tréwě,
TR5.1402 Ǐ wóot thǎt whán yě néxt ǔpón mě sé,
TR5.1403 Sǒ lóst hǎve Í my̌n héle ǎnd ék my̌n héwě,
TR5.1404 Crǐséydě shál nǒught kónně knówěn mé.
TR5.1405 Ǐwýs, my̌n hértěs dáy, my̌ lády̌ frée,
TR5.1406 Sǒ thúrstěth áy my̌n hértě tó by̌hóldě
TR5.1407 Yǒure béutě, thát my̌ líf ǔnnéthe Ǐ hóldě.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998): I know indeed, my own dear, true heart, that when you next see me Criseyde will not be able to recognize me—I have so lost my health and my colour as well. Indeed, my heart’s daylight, my noble lady, my heart so constantly thirsts to behold your beauty that I can hardly hold on to my life.
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): きっと、わが愛しの真の恋人、クリセイデよ、分かっていることだが、次に会う時、小生の健康は衰え、顔色も失せているので、貴方は小生を認識できないでしょう。きっと、わが命の太陽、わが美しい恋人よ、小生は心より貴女の美貌を拝みたいと絶えず切望しているので、とても命を持ち堪えられません。
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 我敢说,真爱呀,你再见我时,我的颜色准已消失殆尽,克丽西德将无从认识故我了!我心中之光,尊贵的女郎,我的生命实已难保,因为我的心渴念着你的容颜,已近乎枯竭了。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Troilus
  • Addressee: Criseyde
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • 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

generous; noble; gracious

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘dere’ (adj., Tr5.1401).