lef adj. & adv.

2023-06-22 Uncategorized

TR5. 183 Bǔt náthělés shě thónkěth Díǒmédě
TR5. 184 Ǒf ál hǐs trávǎile ánd hǐs góodě chéerě,
TR5. 185 Ǎnd thát hy̌m líst hǐs fréndshǐpe híre tǒ bédě;
TR5. 186 Ǎnd shé ǎccéptěth ít ǐn góod mǎnérě,
TR5. 187 Ǎnd wól dǒ fáyn thǎt ís hy̌m líef ǎnd dérě,
TR5. 188 Ǎnd trístěn hým shě wólde, ǎnd wél shě mýghtě,
TR5. 189 Ǎs séydě shé; ǎnd fróm hǐre hórs sh’ǎlíghtě.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): But nevertheless, she thanked Diomede for all his trouble and his kind welcome, and that he wished to offer her his friendship, and she accepted it civilly, and would gladly do whatever was pleasing and dear to him, and she would trust him, as well she might, she said—and she alighted from her horse.
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): れでも彼女はディオメーデに、骨折りと優しい態度に感謝し、自分に友情の意を表したがったことに礼を述べた。そして行儀よく貴方の友情を受け入れ、貴方の気に入るようなことは何でも喜んでしたい、そしてできる限り、貴方を信頼したいと、彼女はそう言って、馬から降りた。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 不过她觉得麻烦了戴沃密得，感谢他，承他好意劝慰，不免聆取他所表示的友谊；她说，她将以礼貌为重，接受他的殷勤之意，且愿他快乐，认为他是一个可信託的人，这是她应有的表示，她一面说着，一面下马。

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Narrator
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: dere (dear)
Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others
Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

OED: Not quoted
MED: Not quoted

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 277): lief: pleasing
Fisher (1989: 507): lef: desirable
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975: 941): lief: agreeable
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

pleasing, agreeable

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘bright’ (adj., Tr5.162).