TR2. 778 "Fǒr lóve ǐs yét thě móostě stórmy̌ lýf,
TR2. 779 Rǐght óf hy̌msélf, thǎt éverě wás bǐgónně;
TR2. 780 Fǒr éverě sóm my̌strúst ǒr nícě stríf
TR2. 781 Thěr ís ǐn lóve, sǒm clóude ǐs óver thǎt sónně.
TR2. 782 Thěrtó wě wrécchěd wómměn nóthǐng kónně,
TR2. 783 Whǎn ús ǐs wó, bǔt wépe ǎnd sítte ǎnd thínkě;
TR2. 784 Ǒure wrécche ǐs thís, ǒure ówěn wó tǒ drýnkě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): For in itself love is the most stormy life that was ever yet begun; there’s always some mistrust or silly strife in love—some cloud covers that sun! When we’re unhappy, we wretched women can do nothing about it but weep and sit and think. This is our misery: to drink up the cup of our own woes.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 何しろ恋をするということは、むかしから、最も波乱に満ちた人生ということよ。恋愛にはいつもある種の不信か、ばかげた争いが付き物ですし、何らかの雲がその恋愛という太陽を覆ってしまいますもの。だから、わたしたち哀れな女性は悲しい時、泣きながら座って考える以外、何もできないのです。わたしたちの惨めな点はこれ、自分の悲しみを我慢して飲むこと。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 爱情本是风波险恶的海，这里面总不免发生猜忌，或无聊的倾轧，犹如太阳面上总要飘过几朵云：我们女子受了磨难，一筹莫展，惟有坐着发愁哭泣；一口气没处去出，只好把愁痛吞咽下去。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Criseyde
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil):
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: N/A (but see 2.75–6)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 83): nice strif: foolish contention
• Fisher (1989: 431): nyce stryf: foolish conflict
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975: 776): nice: foolish
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

foolish

Comments from the Editor

There is no particular counterpart of this stanza in Fil, Criseyde emphasizes the vulnerable condition of ladies.