light adj.(2)

2023-06-24 Uncategorized

TR2.1233 Ănd tóok ĭt hým. Hĕ thónkĕd híre ănd séydĕ,
TR2.1234 “Gŏd wóot, ŏf thýng fŭl óftĕn lóoth by̆gónnĕ
TR2.1235 Cŏmth éndĕ góod; ănd nécĕ mýn, Crĭséydĕ,
TR2.1236 Thăt yé tŏ hým ŏf hárd nŏw bén y̆wónnĕ
TR2.1237 Ŏughte hé bĕ glád, by̆ Gód ănd yóndĕr sónnĕ;
TR2.1238 Fŏr-whí mĕn séith, ‘Ĭmpréssĭóunĕs líghtĕ

TR2.1239 Fŭl líghtly̆ bén ăy rédy̆ tó thĕ flíghtĕ.’

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): and gave it to him. He thanked her and said: ‘God knows, something started reluctantly very often turns out well in the end. And, my niece, Criseyde, he ought to be glad—by God and the sun up above!—that you’re won over to him with difficulty now. For that’s why people say: “slight impressions are always ready to fade very quickly.”
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): こう言って手紙を渡した。彼は感謝して言った。「誓って言うが、気の進まぬままに始めたことがよい結果に終わることだってよくあることだよ。姪よ、クリセイデよ、難儀してお前から愛を得られたことを神と向こうの太陽に誓って、若君は当然喜んでいるよ。だからこう言われる、『印象薄きものは軽々と飛び去りやすい』とね。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 他谢了她，说道，“的确，难于开端的事往往有好结果；克丽西德，天在头上，我敢说他的欢乐应是无穷了，因为你真是一件不易到手的珍宝啊！俗语说，‘轻浮的印象最容易飞扬。’

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: impression (impression)
Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

OED: 13. c. (a) figurative. Of an effect produced on (or sometimes by) a person’s intellect, emotions, or personality: having little impact or influence; slight, superficial, faint. (s.v. light, adj.1 and n.2)
MED: 1a. (d) light in touch; of impressions or imprints: faint, superficial; (s.v. light, adj. (2))

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 101): That ye to hym of hard now ben ywonne / Oughte he be glad, by God and yonder sonne; / Fo-whi men seith, “Impressiounes lighte / Ful lightly ben ay redy to the flighte.”: He shoule be happy that you are only won over to him with difficulty; that’s why people say, ‘Impressions easily made are always likely to fade away very easily’
Fisher (1989: 438): lyghte: superficial
Benson (1987): N/A
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975): N/A
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

faint, superficial

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘glad’ (adj., Tr2.1237).