TR5.1065 “Thĕi wól sĕyn, ín ăs múche ăs ín mĕ ís, TR5.1066 Ĭ háve hĕm dón dĕshónŏur, wéylăwáy! TR5.1067 Ăl bé Ĭ nát thĕ fírst thăt díde ămýs, TR5.1068 Whăt hélpĕth thát tŏ dón my̆ bláme ăwéy? TR5.1069 Bŭt sýn Ĭ sé thĕr ís nŏ béttrĕ wáy, TR5.1070 Ănd thát tŏ láte ĭs nów fŏr mé tŏ réwĕ, TR5.1071 Tŏ Díŏméde ălgáte Ĭ wól bĕ tréwĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): They will say that, in as much as it is my doing, I have brought dishonour on them, alas! Even if I’m not the first that did wrong, how does that help to remove my blame? But since I see there’s no better way, and that it’s too late now for me to have regrets, I will at any rate be true to Diomede.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): あの女たちは言うでしょう、わたしが精一杯、あの女たちの名誉を汚したと、ああ悲しいわ！私は間違ったことをした最初の女ではないとしても、そのことがどうして非難を逸らすことに役に立つでしょう。でもこれより良い手立てがないと分かっていますし、今さら後悔しても始まりませんから。とにかくディオメーデ様に誠意を尽くすことにしましょう。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 她们将因我的一切而认为有损于她们的品德！虽非我首次犯下此罪，却又何从洗刷我的恶名呢？但我既已无法自救，追悔也属枉然，至低限度我还可以真心对待戴沃密得。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Criseyde
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: solution (way, solution)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: Not quoted
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003): N/A
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975): N/A
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
better
Comments from the Editor
Criseyde worries that she will be reproached by the whole world. This speech finds no counterpart in Fil but is based on a long speech of Briseida in Roman de Troie (20237–340). Throughout the story, Criseyde’s behaviour is forced: to accept Troilus’s letter, to meet Troilus privately and to be sent to the Greek camp. Chaucer’s story thus impresses readers with Criseyde’s narrow choices. Again, in the quotation above, Criseyde emphasises that she will be true to Diomede because there is no better choice. Evidently, this speech added to Fil indicates Chaucer’s sympathy for the heroine.