blisful adj.

  blisful 
 TR3.708 Quŏd Pándărús, “Nĕ dréde thĕ névere ă déel,
 TR3.709 Fŏr ít shăl bé rĭght ás thŏw wólt dĕsírĕ;
 TR3.710 Sŏ thrýve Ĭ, thís ny̆ght shál Ĭ máke ĭt wéel,
 TR3.711 Ŏr cástĕn ál thĕ grúwĕl ín thĕ fírĕ.”
 TR3.712 “Yĕt, blísfŭl Vénŭs, thís ny̆ght thów me ĕnspírĕ,”
 TR3.713 Quŏd Tróĭlús, “Ăs wýs ăs Í thĕ sérvĕ,
 TR3.714 Ănd éverĕ bét ănd bét shăl, tíl Ĭ stérvĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): ‘Don’t be a bit afraid,’ said Pandarus, ‘because it’ll be exactly as you’d like it. As I hope to thrive, I’ll make things go well tonight, or make a complete mess of everything.’ ‘Inspire me tonight, blessed Venus,’ said Troilus, ‘as surely as I serve you and ever shall do, better and better, until I die!
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): パンダルスは言った。「決して恐れないでください。若君のお望み通りになるでしょうから。絶対に、今夜は成功させますよ、さもないと火中に粥を投じるように、すべて台無しです、一か八かやりますよ。」「けれども、至福のウェヌスよ、今夜おれを奮い立たしめたまえ」とトロイルスは言った。「きっと貴女にお仕えしますから、これから死ぬまで、もっともっとお仕えしますから。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): “不必存有丝毫的恐惧，”彭大瑞道，“事情定可如你所愿；我相信今夜稳可安然无事，万一有差错，那也只好听天由命了。”“还得祈求厚恩的维娜丝今夜感奋我，”特罗勒斯道，“我虔诚地奉侍你，毕生崇敬你，一天胜似一天。

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: 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

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.