TR3.701 Ănd shórtly̆ tó thĕ póint rĭght fór tŏ gón, TR3.702 Ŏf ál thĭs wérk hĕ tólde hy̆m wórd ănd éndĕ, TR3.703 Ănd séydĕ, “Máke thĕ rédy̆ ríght ănón, TR3.704 Fŏr thów shălt íntŏ hévenĕ blíssĕ wéndĕ.” TR3.705 “Nŏw, blísfŭl Vénŭs, thów mĕ grácĕ séndĕ!” TR3.706 Quŏd Tróĭlús, “Fŏr néverĕ yét nŏ nédĕ TR3.707 Hădde ích ĕr nów, nĕ hálvĕndél thĕ drédĕ.”
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): … and briefly (to come straight to the point) he told him everything about this from beginning to end, and said: ‘Get ready at once, for you’re about to enter heavenly bliss!’ ‘Now, blessed Venus, send me grace!’ said Troilus, ‘for I never had such need for it before now, nor half the fear!’
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): そして彼はすぐに目的へと進むために手短に仕事について一部始終語ろうとして、言った。「すぐにご用意ください、若君は天の至福へ入ろうとなさるところですから。」「さあ、至福のウェヌスよ、今夜おれに恩寵を与えたまえ！」とトロイルスは言った。「おれは今までこのような助けを必要としなかったし、この半分も恐怖を感じたことがなかった。」
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 简明说来，他将这布置仔细说给他听，并道，“马上准备，你将进入幸福之境了。”“啊，厚恩的维娜丝，”特罗勒斯道，“赐我恩泽，我此刻最需要你的援助，我心中充满了未曾有过的恐惧。”
Word Information
- Etymology: blis (OE) + ful
- Addresser: Troilus
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: supernatural beings (Venus)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: (Quoted) 2. (b) blessed, holy, sacred. (s.v. blisful, adj.)
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003): N/A
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) blessed (s.v. blis(s)ful, adj.)
- Donaldson (1975): N/A
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
blessed; beneficent
Comments from the Editor
Venus is a blissful goddess for Troilus, and we find him praying to her in various scenes throughout, each time full of hope. In 1.1014, when Pandarus promises to help him win Criseyde, Chaucer added Troilus’s invocation to Venus, which finds no counterpart in Fil. Next, Troilus prays to Venus after he hears that Pandarus has succeeded in winning Criseyde’s love for him (2.972). Later, before (as in the quotation above) and during the consummation of his love, Troilus prays to various gods (3.705–35; 1254–74), especially Venus (3.705, 712, 715, 1255, 1257). By adding these repeated references to Venus, Chaucer clearly increased the significance of Venus as a goddess of bliss for Troilus.