bet adj.

  bet 
TR1.253 Nŏw síth ĭt máy năt góodly̆ bén wĭthstóndĕ,
TR1.254 Ănd ís ă thíng sŏ vértŭóus ĭn kýndĕ,
TR1.255 Rĕfúsĕth nát tŏ Lóve fŏr tó bĕn bóndĕ,
TR1.256 Sy̆n, ás hy̆msélvĕn líste, hĕ máy yŏw býndĕ;
TR1.257 Thĕ yérde ĭs bét thăt bówĕn wóle ănd wýndĕ
TR1.258 Thăn thát thăt brést, ănd thérfŏre Í yŏw rédĕ
TR1.259 Tŏ fólŏwen hým thăt só wĕl kán yŏw lédĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Now since it can hardly be resisted, and is a thing so virtuous in its nature, do not refuse to be enslaved to Love, since it may bind you as it pleases. The sapling that will bow and bend is better than the one that breaks, and I therefore advise you to follow love, which can give you such a lead.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): それから愛にたやすく逆らえないし、愛は当然高潔なものだから、＜愛の神＞に縛られることを拒絶してはならない、＜愛の神＞は好むままに、皆さんを縛ることができるのだから。棒は曲がったりねじれたりする材質のほうが、すぐ折れてしまう材質よりよいのだ。従って私は皆さんに上手に導く能力を持つ＜愛の神＞に従うようにと忠告します。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 因此，爱情既不是抵挡不住，且能任意羁绊着你，同时它的本质又富有德性，你也就不必拒绝它的罗网了。一枝手杖，与其坚脆而易断，倒不如有弹性而能弯曲；所以我劝你们还是听从它的指引。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Narrator
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: plants (the sapling that will bow and bend)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: (Quoted) 2. (a) Better (in some way); bet is, it is better; bet in elde, more advanced in age; ~ than (five thousand), more than; (s.v. bet, adv. & adj.)
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 14): bet: better  
  • Fisher (1989: 404): bet: better
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) better (s.v. bet, adj. comp.)
  • Donaldson (1975: 719): bet: better  
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

better

Comments from the Editor

Chaucer intentionally added the quotation above and its context (1.232–66), in which he claims that readers should learn from Troilus’s example and follow the instruction of Love, which, as he says, can bind everything.