TR2.1380 “Thĕnk hére-ăyéins: whăn thát thĕ stórdy̆ óok, TR2.1381 Ŏn whích mĕn hákkĕth óftĕ, fór thĕ nónĕs, TR2.1382 Rĕcéyvĕd háth thĕ háppy̆ fálly̆ng stróok, TR2.1383 Thĕ gréetĕ swéigh dŏth ít cŏme ál ăt ónĕs, TR2.1384 Ăs dón thĭse rókkĕs ór thĭse mílnĕstónĕs; TR2.1385 Fŏr swíftĕr cóurs cŏmth thýng thăt ís ŏf wíghtĕ, TR2.1386 Whăn ít dĕscéndĕth, thán dŏn thýngĕs líghtĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): ‘Think, on the contrary, that when the sturdy oak—which men are chopping at repeatedly for the purpose—has received the luck stroke that makes it fall, the great momentum makes it come down all at once, as these rocks or millstones do; for something that is weighty runs a swifter course when it comes down than light things do.
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): そうではなくこうお考えください。例えば、頑丈なオーク樫の木を、人びとは切り倒そうと、そのつもりで繰り返し斧を入れますと、運よく倒される一撃を受け、こんな巨岩や重い石臼が落ちるように、はずみで突然大きく、どすんと、倒れます。重いものは、倒れる時には、軽いものよりも速く倒れますから。
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 可是，由另一方面想，坚强的橡树如果砍久了，最后只在扼要处再砍一下，那粗重的树干就会立刻像岩石一般倒落下来；因物体愈重，倒塌得愈快。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Pandarus
- Addressee: Troilus
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: manner of action (cours)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: 1. (a) In rapid motion, moving quickly, fast; of movement: characterized by high speed or rapid velocity; also, in adverbial phrase: comen swiftere cours, to come more swiftly; (s.v. swift(e,adj.)
- 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
moving quickly, fast
Comments from the Editor
See my comment of ‘gret’ (adj. & adv. & n., Tr2.1383).