TR3.1618 “My̌ déerě frénd, ǐf Í hǎve dón fǒr thé TR3.1619 Ǐn ány̌ cás, Gǒd wót, ǐt ís mě líef, TR3.1620 Ǎnd ám ǎs glád ǎs mán mǎy óf ǐt bé, TR3.1621 Gǒd hélp mě só; bǔt ták nǒw nát ǎ-gríef TR3.1622 Thǎt Í shǎl séyn: bě wár ǒf thís měschíef, TR3.1623 Thǎt, thére ǎs thów nǒw bróught ǎrt ín thy̌ blíssě, TR3.1624 Thǎt thów thǐsélf ně cáuse ǐt nát tǒ míssě.
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- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): ‘My dear friend, if I’ve done anything for you in any situation, God knows, I’m as pleased and happy as a man can be about it, God help me! But don’t be annoyed now at what I’m going to say. Beware of this particular misfortune: that you’re not yourself responsible for making your current happiness come to grief.
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 「親友である若君、とにかく私が貴方のためにしたのであれば、誓って、うれしいです、この上ないくらいうれしいです。神かけて本当に。でも私の言うことに気を悪くなさらないでください、次の不運に注意してください。せっかく幸せを手に入れられたのですから、貴方ご自身は悲しみに至らしめませんように。
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): “我的亲爱的朋友,我若为你帮了一点忙,上天知道,是我十分乐意的,愿上帝助我;但你还须小心,你目前已获得的幸福需要你好自守护,庶几没有差错,这话你听了不要生气。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Pandarus
- Addressee: Troilus
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): 3.60
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: 3a. (a) Of actions, behavior, circumstances, etc.: pleasing, agreeable, desirable; also, acceptable as a matter of choice or preference; — usually with dat. or to (unto)- phrase; (s.v. lẹ̄f, adj. & adv.)
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 189): is me lief: pleases me
- Fisher (1989: 473): me lief: pleasing to me
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): pleasing (s.v. leef/lief, adj.)
- Donaldson (1975: 867): lief: i.e., pleasing
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
pleasing, agreeable
Comments from the Editor
See my comment of ‘dere’ (adj., Tr3.1618).