bet adj.

  bet 
 TR3.1219 Ănd nów swĕtnéssĕ sémĕth mórĕ swétĕ,
 TR3.1220 Thăt bíttĕrnésse ăssáiĕd wás by̆fórn;
 TR3.1221 Fŏr óut ŏf wó ĭn blíssĕ nów thĕy flétĕ;
 TR3.1222 Nŏn swích thĕy féltĕn síthĕn théy wĕre bórn.
 TR3.1223 Nŏw ís thĭs bét thăn bóthĕ twó bĕ lórn.
 TR3.1224 Fŏr lóve ŏf Gód, tăke évery̆ wómmăn héedĕ
 TR3.1225 Tŏ wérkĕn thús, ĭf ít cŏmth tó thĕ néedĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): And now sweetness seems sweeter, because bitterness was experienced before; for now they float out of sorrow into bliss, such as they had never felt in their lives. Now this is better than that both of them should be lost! For the love of God, let every woman take heed to act like this if the need arises!
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 今や甘美な気持ちがよけいに甘美に見える、以前苦杯をなめたためだ。何しろ彼らは今悲しみから至福へ流れ込んでいるのだから。彼らは生まれてこの方こんな幸せを感じたことがなかった。さて、これはこの両人が破滅するよりましなのだ。皆さん、後生だから、困った事態に陥れば、どの女性にもこのように行動を取るように、注意を促してください。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 此时的甜蜜更觉甜蜜，因为在先已尝过了苦味；他俩由悲苦的幽谷流入了幸福的江河。这样的幸福是他们有生以来所未领会过的；这样岂不比悲欢都无经验的更好吗？凭了上天的爱，愿每个女子听着，凡遇有必要之时，不可忘记这个道理。

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: Others (to experience bitterness before sweetness)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003): N/A
  • Fisher (1989: 467): bet: better
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975: 854): bet: better
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

better

Comments from the Editor

The two protagonists spend their first night together. The statement about sweetness and bitterness coincides with Pandarus’s speech in Book I (1.638–9).