TR4. 988 “Bŭt ít wĕre ráthĕr án ŏpýny̆óun TR4. 989 Ŭncértĕyn, ánd nŏ stédfăst fórsĕýngĕ; TR4. 990 Ănd cértĕs, thát wĕre án ăbúsĭóun, TR4. 991 Thăt Gód shŏlde hán nŏ párfĭt clér wy̆týngĕ TR4. 992 Móre thăn wĕ mén thăt hán dŏutóus wĕnýngĕ. TR4. 993 Bŭt swích ăn érrŏur úpŏn Gód tŏ géssĕ TR4. 994 Wĕre fáls ănd fóul, ănd wíkkĕd córsĕdnéssĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): but rather, it would be an uncertain opinion, and not stable foresight. And that would certainly be an absurdity, that God should have no more perfect and clear knowledge than we men who have only doubtful conjecturings. But to imagine such an error in God would be disloyal and vile, and accursed wickedness.
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): それはむしろ不確実な意見であろうし、絶対確実な予知ではないだろう。あいまいな推測しか成し得ないわれわれ人間以上に、神はまったく明晰な英知を持ち合わせていないと、想像する如きは、確かに神を冒瀆するのも甚だしいのだ。とにかく神に対してそのような奢りを想像するのは、不実で、けしからぬことで、悪意に満ちた不敬であろう。
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 岂不就是他失却了先知之能，而只具有一种无定的期望而已。若说上帝并无全智，并不能超出猜疑不定的人类，那简直是亵渎神明的话。妄认上帝会有错误，当然是可诅咒的邪说。
Word Information
- Etymology: OF&L
- Addresser: Troilus
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: cler
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: skill or knowledge (wytynge)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: Not quoted
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 238): parfit: perfect
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975: 910): parfit cleer: perfectly clear
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
perfect, supreme
Comments from the Editor
See my comment of ‘certain’ (adj., Tr4.1012).