bisi adj.

  bisi 
 TR4.1639 “Ănd óver ăl thís Ĭ préy yŏw,” quód shĕ thó,
 TR4.1640 “My̆n ówĕne hértĕs sóthfăst súffĭsáuncĕ,
 TR4.1641 Sy̆n Í ăm thýn ăl hól, wĭthóutĕn mó,
 TR4.1642 Thăt whíl thăt Í ăm ábsĕnt, nó plĕsáuncĕ
 TR4.1643 Ŏf óothĕr dó mĕ fró yŏure rémĕmbráuncĕ;
 TR4.1644 Fŏr Í ăm évere ăgást, fŏrwhý mĕn rédĕ
 TR4.1645 Thăt lóve ĭs thýng ăy fúl ŏf bísy̆ drédĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Besides all this I beg you,’ said she then, ‘my own heart’s true fulfilment, since I’m completely yours alone, that while I’m away no pleasure in anyone else put me from your thoughts, for I’m afraid all the time, because people say “love is something always full of anxiety”.
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): そしてさらにお願いがあります、わたしの心の真の充足であられるお方、わたしは完全に貴方のもの、それ以外のものでありませんから、わたしがいない間、他のどなたかとお楽しみになってわたしをお忘れにならないでください。だってわたしはずっと怯えておりますもの、なぜなら愛はつねに恐ろしい不安に満ちたものと人は言いますから。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 还有一层，我全心的占领者，我既归你所有，求你莫在我离去的时期中，移爱于人而忘记了我。我一向最忌俗语所说的一句话，‘爱情常多虑’。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Criseyde
  • Addressee: Troilus
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 4.162)
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: fear (drede)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: (Quoted) 5. (f) anxious, solicitous (heart, manner); ~ dred, deep anxiety, worry; (s.v. bisī, adj.)
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 265): bisy: anxious
  • Fisher (1989: 503): bysy: anxious
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975: 932): bisy: anxious
  • Baugh (1963: 180): bisy drede: anxiety

Possible Definitions

anxious

Comments from the Editor

At this last secret meeting before Criseyde departs for the Greek camp, she elucidates her plan to cheat her father and return in 10 days. Through the abovementioned quote, she reminds Troilus repeatedly not to forget her and love another. Her insistence compels readers to suspect that she plans to be away for a long time, and that perhaps she did not herself believe that she could return in ten days.

Besides, “love is thyng ay ful of bisy drede” is a proverb Chaucer borrowed from Ovid, Heroides, 1.12, and this sentiment is not iterated in the corresponding portion of Fil.

In Fil, moreover, Criseida emphasises that if she were betrayed, she would slay herself like a madwoman (4.162, 5). Chaucer omitted this part and merely portrayed Criseyde saying that if she thought otherwise (i.e. if she were not true to Troilus), she would die.