TR1. 155 Ǎnd só bǐfél, whǎn cóměn wás thě týmě
TR1. 156 Ǒf Ápěríl, whǎn clóthěd ís thě médě
TR1. 157 Wǐth néwě gréne, ǒf lústy̌ Véer thě prýmě,
TR1. 158 Ǎnd swótě sméllěn flóurěs whíte ǎnd rédě,
TR1. 159 Ǐn sóndry̌ wísěs shéwěd, ás Ǐ rédě,
TR1. 160 Thě fólk ǒf Tróie hǐre óbsěrváuncěs óldě,
TR1. 161 Pǎlládǐóněs féstě fór tǒ hóldě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): It so happened, when April time had come, when the meadow is clothed with new greenery at the beginning of delightful springtime, and white and red flowers smell sweetly, the people of Troy performed in various ways, as I read, their ancient ceremonies, in order to observe the festival of Palladium.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 実は、四月の時節が来る頃、うれしい春の初め、牧場が新緑と甘い香りがする白や赤の花で装う頃、読んだ本によれば、トロイアの人びとはパラスの神像のお祭りを催すために、むかしながらの儀式をいろいろ執り行なった。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 那是四月的天气，田野著上了新鲜的绿色，明媚的春光照耀着，红白的花卉发出芬芳，这时特罗亚的人们尊崇着帕拉第，参与盛会，用的是不同的古传仪式。

Word Information

• Etymology: From lust
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 1.18
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: spring (Veer)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 10): lusty: delightful
• Fisher (1989: 402): lusti ver: pleasurable Spring
• Benson (1987: 475): lusty: delightful
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963: 84): of lusty Veer the pryme: the beginning of spring

Possible Definitions

delightful, pleasurable; vigorous

Comments from the Editor

In this quote, Chaucer portrays April as a season filled with sexual passion, a time of mating. There are sexual innuendoes present in various parts of the text. For instance, when “Veer” is modified by “grene” or “lusty,” as it is here, it indicates that spring is associated with “youth, freshness, regeneration, etc.; … the season designated for mating, procreation” (MED, s.v. vēr, n.(1)). Therefore, the mention of flowers in the quote can be interpreted as representing lovers.

   Besides, while this quote only mentions plants, its counterpart mentions both plants and animals (see. Fil.1.18).