benigne adj.

  benigne 
TR3.22 Yĕ fíĕrse Márs ăpáisĕn óf hĭs írĕ,
TR3.23 Ănd ás yŏw líst, yĕ mákĕn hértĕs dígnĕ;
TR3.24 Ălgátĕs hém thăt yé wŏl sétte ă-fýrĕ,
TR3.25 Thĕy drédĕn sháme, ănd vícĕs théy rĕsýgnĕ;
TR3.26 Yĕ dó hĕm córtĕys bé, frésshe ănd bĕnígnĕ;
TR3.27 Ănd héighe ŏr lówe, ăftér ă wíght ĕnténdĕth,
TR3.28 Thĕ jóiĕs thát hĕ háth, yŏure mýght ĭt séndĕth.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): You appease fierce Mars of his wrath and, as you please, you make hearts noble. At any rate, those whom you wish to kindle with your fire — they fear disgrace and reject vice. You cause them to be courteous, lively, and considerate; and in all respects, according to how a person is inclined, the happiness that he has is sent by your power.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 貴女は残忍なマールスの怒りを和らげ、お気に召すままに、人の心を高潔になさいます。とにかく、貴女が心を燃やしてあげたいと思われる方がたは、すなわちその人たちは、皆恥を恐れ、悪徳を拒絶します。貴女こそ彼らを雅に、溌溂に、思いやり深くなさいます。そして身分の上下に関係なく、功績に応じて、人が得る喜びというものは貴女の御力によって送られるのです。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 你使凶恶的马尔斯息怒，你把人心改善；你所愿激励的人们都转而知耻悔过；你使他们明礼、活泼、亲善；无论高低，你赐与他们所应得的快乐。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OF
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: corteys (courteous), fresshe
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 3.77, ‘benegno’, which is the counterpart of ‘benign’ is used to Mars)
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (lovers)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 124): benigne: considerate
  • Fisher (1989: 452): do … fresche … benigne: make, eager, gracious
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) kind, gentle, considerate (s.v. benigne, adj.)
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

considerate, gracious

Comments from the Editor

This segment forms part of the poet’s invocation to Venus. The whole appeal comprises seven stanzas and partly follows Fil.3.74-79. Venus, the goddess of the third heaven, is also regarded as the Sun’s partner and Jove’s daughter.

The goddess Venus is delightful to Troilus, who prays to her in various scenes, each time full of hope. He first appeals to her near the end of Book I when Pandarus promises to help him. However, Troiolo does not pray to Venus in a similar scene in the Italian source (Fil.2.29). Troilus prays again to Venus, full of hope and happiness, after hearing that Pandarus has succeeded in winning Criseyde’s love for him. Troiolo also prays to Venus in the counterpart of this scene in Fil.2.80, 7–8. Later, Troilus prays to various gods, especially Venus (3.705, 712, 715, 1255, 1257), before and during the consummation of his love (3.705–35; 1254–74). Chaucer adds all the repeated references to Venus, increasing her significance as a goddess of bliss for Troilus in Tr in comparison to the source text, Fil.