TR4.778 “Ănd, Tróĭlús, my̆ clóthĕs évery̆chón
 TR4.779 Shŭl blákĕ bén ĭn tókeny̆ng, hértĕ swétĕ,
 TR4.780 Thăt Í ăm ás ŏut óf thĭs wórld ăgón,
 TR4.781 Thăt wónt wăs yów tŏ séttĕn ín quĭétĕ;
 TR4.782 Ănd óf my̆n órdrĕ, áy tĭl déth mĕ métĕ,
 TR4.783 Thĕ óbsĕrváncĕ évere, ĭn yóure ăbséncĕ,
 TR4.784 Shăl sórwĕ bén, cŏmpléynt, ănd ábstĭnéncĕ. 

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translation (Windeatt: 1998): And Troilus, all my clothes shall be black, as a sign — sweet heart — that I, who was accustomed to set your heart at rest, am as if withdrawn from this world. And, in your absence, till I meet with death, the observance of my “order” will always be sorrow, lamentation, and abstinence.
• Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): そして、トロイルス様、わたしの衣装は黒ずくめにしましょう。ねえ貴方、わたしはずっと貴方のお心を和らげて差し上げましたが、それをこの世から立ち去って行く印にしましょう。わたしの所属する修道会のお勤めは、わたしが死と出会うまで、貴方のいない間、常に悲しみと嘆きと禁欲ということにします。
• Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 我将全身穿上黑服，特罗勒斯，甜蜜的心，我就这样表示曾经和你同享安乐，现今却谢绝了尘缘，且终身就将以悲哀，泣诉，及节操为我的教规。

Word Information

• Etymology: OE
• Addresser: Criseyde
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): nero (see 4.90, 4)
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: clothes (Criseyde’s clothes, i.e. her widow’s attire)
• 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): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

of a black colour

Comments from the Editor

The quotation above follows Fil. 4.90 where Criseida claims she is to wear black clothes. Chaucer’s Criseyde, however, adds that she is to live as a nun and that the observances of her ‘order’ shall be sorrow, lamentation and abstinence.