TR2.799 “Hŏw bísy̆, íf Ĭ lóve, ĕk móst Ĭ bé TR2.800 Tŏ plésĕn hém thăt jángle ŏf lóve, ănd drémĕn, TR2.801 Ănd cóye hĕm, thát thĕy séye nŏon hárm ŏf mé! TR2.802 Fŏr thóugh thĕr bé nŏ cáusĕ, yét hĕm sémĕn TR2.803 Ăl bé fŏr hárm thăt fólk hĭre fréndĕs quémĕn; TR2.804 Ănd whó măy stóppĕn évery̆ wíkkĕd tóngĕ, TR2.805 Ŏr sówn ŏf béllĕs whíl thăt théi bĕn róngĕ?”
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): How busy, if I love, must I also be to please those who gossip about love and dream up things, and cajole them so that they speak no ill of me! For though there’s no reason for it, it still seems to them that everything people do to please their friends is for some harmful purpose; and who can stop every wicked tongue or the sound of bells while they’re being rung?’
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 恋をすれば、わたしもどんなに忙しく動き回らねばならないやら、恋愛を噂話にする人や、有ること無いことを思いつく人をおだてて、わたしのことを悪く言わないようになだめるために！たとえ根拠がなくとも、彼らにはすべてが有害な目的のためのように見えるらしいですから。だから邪悪な心をもつ人の舌を誰が止められましょうか。また鐘を鳴らしている間に誰がその音を止められましょうか。」
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 再说，我若爱上了人，就将终日忙着去讨好于他，以免人们不停地饶舌，想尽方法去按住他们的嘴，怕受他们的诽谤！人们见你款待朋友，就是没有根据，也要认为其中必有弱点；谁能箝住世人的毒舌，或停止钟声的余音呢？”
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: human beings (female, I = Criseyde)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
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
fully occupied, busy
Comments from the Editor
Criseyde ponders over the advantages and disadvantages of falling in love with Troilus. If we compare this scene’s counterpart in Fil, we see a core difference between the two heroines. First, Chaucer omitted Criseida’s ‘adulterous’ speech (see 2.74 where Criseida emphasises that ‘water acquired by stealth is sweeter far than wine had in abundance’) to portray Criseyde as the heroine of a courtly love story. Second, Criseide is afraid that Troiolo will abandon her or treat her ill because his social status is much higher than hers (see. 2.76). In Chaucer’s story, however, we are told that Criseyde’s social status is high enough to maintain good relations with the princes. To be specific, she is able to meet Hector and has the right to attend the party of Deiphebus.