TR5.1317 “Rĭght frésshĕ flóur, whŏs Í bĕn háve ănd shál, TR5.1318 Wĭthóutĕn párt ŏf éllĕswhére sĕrvýsĕ, TR5.1319 Wĭth hértĕ, bódy̆, líf, lŭst, thóught, ănd ál, TR5.1320 Ĭ, wófŭl wýght, ĭn éverĭch húmblĕ wísĕ TR5.1321 Thăt tóngĕ télle ŏr hértĕ máy dĕvýsĕ, TR5.1322 Ăs ófte ăs mátĕre óccŭpíĕth pláce, TR5.1323 Mĕ récŏmáunde ŭntó yŏure nóblĕ grácĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): ‘Freshest of flowers—in whose service I have been and shall be, with heart, body, life, desires, thought, and everything, and with no part of my service given elsewhere—I, unhappy man, commend myself to your noble favour, as constantly as space is filled with matter, and in every humble way that tongue can tell or heart imagine!
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): まことに初々しい花よ、今までも、これからも、他所のものには目もくれず、身も心も命も欲望も思想も、さらに何もかも捧げて仕えております。不仕合せ者たる小生は、言葉を尽くし、真心を尽くした慎ましい態度で、物質が空間を占めるように、絶えず貴女の気高い恵みを称えております。」
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 鲜丽之花，我只侍侯你一人，在过去，在未来，以我的身心，我的生命，我的愿望，思想与一切，奉献给你；我以万物充满空间那样的坚定，并竭尽人口所能言和人心所能思的那样谦卑，敬求你的垂怜。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Troilus (in his letter)
- Addressee: Criseyde
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): 7.52
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (female: Criseyde)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: Not quoted
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 324): Right fresshe flour: freshest of flowers
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975): N/A
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
lovely; lively, vigorous; youthful
Comments from the Editor
This is the first stanza of Troilus’ first letter to Criseyde after she leaves for the Greek camps. See also my comment of ‘aspre’ (adj., Tr5.1326).