TR1. 302 Lŏ, hé thăt léet hy̆msélvĕn só kŏnnýngĕ,
TR1. 303 Ănd scórnĕd hém thăt Lóvĕs péynĕs drýĕn,
TR1. 304 Wăs fúl ŭnwár thăt Lóve hădde hís dwĕllýngĕ
TR1. 305 Wĭthínne thĕ súbtĭle strémĕs óf hĭre ýĕn;
TR1. 306 Thăt sódĕynlý hy̆m thóughte hĕ féltĕ dýĕn,
TR1. 307 Rĭght wíth hĭre lóok, thĕ spírĭt ín hĭs hértĕ:
TR1. 308 Blíssĕd bĕ Lóve, thăt kán thŭs fólk cŏnvértĕ!

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): See! He who considered himself so knowledgeable, who scorned those who suffer the pains of love, was quite unaware that Love dwelt within the ethereal beams of her eyes, so that it suddenly seemed to him that, just with her look, he felt the vital spirit in his heart die. Blessed be Love, that can convert people like this!
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): ほら、自分自身は大変賢いと思い、＜愛の神＞の責め苦に耐える人びとを軽蔑した彼だったが、クリセイデの目の霊妙な輝きの中に、＜愛の神＞が宿っているのを気づかなかった。彼女を一目見た瞬間、彼は突然死にそうに感じ、心臓の命の原動力がなくなりそうに思えた。このように人を変えられる＜愛の神＞に祝福あれ！
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 咯，自作聪明的人，唾骂旁人不应该枉受爱神的摧残，全未警觉到爱神就在她那妖迷的眼光中居住；这眼光一闪，可使他顿觉心魂消失；祝福爱神，你的威力煞是惊人！

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 1.29
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: light (beams)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive 

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 3c. (a) Of air, fire, a spirit, soul, resurrected body, etc.: thin, light, not dense; clear, pure, ethereal; ben maked ~, to be purified; also fig.; (s.v. sotil, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003): N/A
• Fisher (1989: 405): subtile stremes: secret beams
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): ethereal (s.v. subtil(e/sotil/sotel, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

ethereal, clear, secret

Comments from the Editor

The eyes held significant importance in medieval physiology. In medieval physiology, it was believed that the eyes acted as the windows to the soul and were closely connected to one’s emotions and spiritual well-being. For more information about Criseyde’s eyes throughout the story, see my comment of ‘cler’ (adj., Tr3.129).