lef adj. & adv.

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TR3. 862 “Ănd nécĕ mýn -- nĕ táke ĭt náught ăgríĕf --
TR3. 863 Ĭf thát yĕ súffre hy̆m ál ny̆ght ín thĭs wó,
TR3. 864 Gŏd hélp mĕ só, yĕ hádde hy̆m néverĕ líĕf!
TR3. 865 Thăt dár Ĭ séyn, nŏw thér ĭs bút wĕ twó.
TR3. 866 Bŭt wél Ĭ wóot thăt yé wŏl nát dŏ só;
TR3. 867 Yĕ bén tŏ wýs tŏ dóon sŏ grét fŏlíĕ,
TR3. 868 Tŏ pútte hĭs líf ăl nýght ĭn júpĕrtíĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And my niece— don’t take this badly-if you let him remain in this misery all night, God help me, you never lover him! I dare to say that, now there is just the two of us But I know very well that you won’t do so. You’re too sensible to do anything so insane as to put his life at risk all night.
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 姪よ、このことで悩まないでおくれ、あのお方を夜通しこの悲嘆のうちに苦しめれば、誓って、お前は決してあのお方を愛していないということだ!今われわれ二人きりだから、あえて言わせてもらうが、お前はそのようにしないことがよく分かるんだ。あのお方の命を夜通し危険に曝すなんて、お前のような賢い女はそんな大馬鹿をするはずがない。」
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 甥女,他若让他通宵忧伤,上帝佑我,你实在没有爱过他,—我敢说这句话,反正这里没有旁人,你不要生气。但我很知道你不至如此;你很聪明,自然不会做这样糊涂事,不会忍心看他通夜心碎,弄得性命有关。”

Word Information

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

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 158): hadde hym nevere lief: never loved him
  • Fisher (1989: 461): hadde hym nevere lef: had never loved him
  • Benson (1987: 525): ye hadde hym nevere lief: you never loved him
  • Davis et al. (1979): have ~: hold dear, love (s.v. leef/lief, adj.)
  • Donaldson (1975: 841): lief: dear
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

have ~: hold dear

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘gret’ (adj. & adv. & n., Tr3.867).