TR4.1618 "Fǒr íf yě wíste hǒw sóore ǐt dóth mě smértě,
TR4.1619 Yě wóldě césse ǒf thís; fǒr, Gód, thǒw wóst,
TR4.1620 Thě púrě spírǐt wépěth ín my̌n hértě
TR4.1621 Tǒ sé yǒw wépěn thát Ǐ lóvě móst,
TR4.1622 Ǎnd thát Ǐ mót gón tǒ thě Grékǐs óost.
TR4.1623 Yě, nére ǐt thát Ǐ wístě rémědíě
TR4.1624 Tǒ cóme ǎyéyn, rǐght hére Ǐ wóldě dýě!

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): For if you knew how badly it hurts me, you would stop this. For, O God, you know, the very spirit weeps in my heart to see you weep that I most love, and that I must go to the Greeks. Yes, if it weren’t that I knew a way to come back, I would die right here!
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): わたしがいかにひどく心を痛めているかご存じなら、これを取り止めになさるでしょう。だって、誓って、そのう、最も愛する貴方が泣いていらっしゃるのを見まして、わたしがギリシャ軍の陣営に行かねばならないということで、本当のところ、わたしは心の中で泣いておりますのよ。そうよ、戻って来られる有効な手段をもしわたしが知らないなら、ここですぐに命を絶ちますわ！
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 你若知道这使我怎样痛苦，你就不会多说了；上帝看得很清楚，我心头的精灵在伴你哭泣，我这样爱你，我怎愿去希腊营中。啊，我若没有想出这条归计，也就惟有死在你面前了！

Word Information

• Etymology: OF&L
• Addresser: Criseyde
• Addressee: Troilus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 4.158
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: soul (spirit)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 5. (b) as intensive: the ~ fettres, even the fetters, the very fetters; on ~ erthe, on earth itself; bi ~ kinde, by his very nature; into the ~ corneres, even into the corners; to his flesh ~, to his very flesh; etc (s.v. pūr(e, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 264): pure spirit: very spirit
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): 2. very (s.v. pure, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963: 180): pure spirit: (my) very soul

Possible Definitions

very

Comments from the Editor

This stanza follows Fil.4.158, but Chaucer includes the last two lines, where Criseyde emphasizes her strong reluctance to leave Troilus. This addition by Chaucer highlights Criseyde’s deep attachment and reluctance to part from Troilus, intensifying the emotional impact of the scene.