best adj. (sup.)

  best 
TR2.1009 “Ănd Í my̆sélf wŏl thérwĭth tó hĭre gón;
TR2.1010 Ănd whán thŏw wóost thăt Í ăm wíth hĭre thérĕ,
TR2.1011 Wŏrth thów ŭpón ă cóursĕr ríght ănón --
TR2.1012 Yĕ, hárdĭlý, rĭght ín thĭ béstĕ gérĕ --
TR2.1013 Ănd rýd fŏrth bý thĕ pláce, ăs nóught nĕ wérĕ,
TR2.1014 Ănd thów shălt fýnde ŭs, íf Ĭ máy, sĭttýngĕ
TR2.1015 Ăt sóm wy̆ndów, ĭntó thĕ stréte lŏkýngĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): I’ll take it to her myself; and as soon as you know I’m there with her, get up on a warhorse right away — yes, for sure, absolutely in your best gear — and ride past the place as though there were nothing in it, and (if I can manage it) you’ll find us sitting at some window, looking into the street.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 私自身がそれを持って彼女のもとへ参りましょう。そしてそこに私が彼女と一緒にいると分かりましたら、若君はただちに軍馬に乗って、そうです、絶対に、最上の装いをなさってくださいね、何事もなかったかのように、そのそばをお通りください。そうすれば、うまくいけば、私たち二人が窓辺に座って、通りを見下ろしているのが見えますよ。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 我将带这信去；你计算我在她家里的时间，骑上马，配上最讲究的辔鞍，装着有事打她家经过，我将设法使你看见我俩坐在窗口望街。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Pandarus
  • Addressee: Troilus
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: clothes
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: (Quoted) 1. (b) of things, actions, conditions, etc.: best, most excellent or desirable, of highest quality, most advantageous; ~ is ever mete, moderation is always best; ~ wone, best course of action, best opportunity; most ~, very best; (s.v. best,adj. (superlative))
  • 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

Of things, actions, conditions, etc.: best, most excellent or desirable, of highest quality, most advantageous;

Comments from the Editor

The quotation above presents Pandarus’s scheme to arrange an actual meeting of the two protagonists; this idea is totally Chaucer’s.