salt adj.

2023-07-02 Uncategorized

TR5.1373 "My̌n éyěn twó, ǐn véyn wǐth whích Ǐ sé,
TR5.1374 Ǒf sórwfǔl térǐs sálte ǎrn wáxěn wéllěs;
TR5.1375 My̌ sóng, ǐn pléynte ǒf mýn ǎdvérsǐtée;
TR5.1376 My̌ góod, ǐn hárm; my̌n ése ěk wóxěn hélle ǐs;
TR5.1377 My̌ jóie, ǐn wó; Ǐ kán sěy yów nǎught éllǐs,
TR5.1378 Bǔt tórněd ís -- fǒr whích my̌ líf Ǐ wárǐe --
TR5.1379 Éverǐch jóie ǒr ése ǐn hǐs cóntrǎríě;

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): My two eyes, with which I see in vain, have become wells of sorrowful, salt tears. My song has turned into lamentation for my adversity, and my good into harm; my ease into hell, my joy into woe. I can’t say anything else to you, but that every joy or comfort is turned into its contrary, and because of that I curse my life.
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 見ようと思っても見えない小生の両目は塩辛い悲しい涙の泉になってしまいました。小生の歌は小生の逆境の嘆きになり、小生の福利は災厄に、小生の安楽も惨苦になりました。小生の喜びは悲しみに、これ以上貴女に何も言えませんが、変わってしまいました―それゆえ小生はわが人生を呪うのですーどの喜びも安楽も皆その反対になりました。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 我的两眼，没精打采，睁视着，已成了酸泪的泉头；我的歌声为失意的悲鸣；安宁变为患难；幸福变为苦海；欢虐变为忧虑；我复何言，每一种快意的事都已整个翻转了面，因此我惟有诅咒我的生命。

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Troilus (in his letter)
Addressee: Criseyde
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: sorweful (sorrowful)
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 7.60
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: tears (Troilus’ tears)
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): salt (applied only to the sea and to tears) (s.v. salte, adj.)
Donaldson (1975): N/A
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

(applied to tears) salt

Comments from the Editor

This stanza differs from its counterpart in Fil.7.60 in that Troiolo (in Fil) also emphasizes his inability to eat or drink, rest or sleep, and his persistent calling of Criseida’s name. These additional details, depicting Troiolo’s heightened state of longing and distress, are not included in Chaucer’s adaptation of the stanza.