blisful adj.

  blisful 
 TR5.596 “Dĕstréyne hĭre hérte ăs fástĕ tó rĕtórnĕ
 TR5.597 Ăs thów dŏost mýn tŏ lóngĕn híre tŏ sée;
 TR5.598 Thăn wóot Ĭ wél thăt shé ny̆l náught sŏjórnĕ.
 TR5.599 Nŏw blísfŭl lórd, sŏ crúĕl thów nĕ bé
 TR5.600 Ŭntó thĕ blóod ŏf Tróie, Ĭ préyĕ thé,
 TR5.601 Ăs Júnŏ wás ŭntó thĕ blóod Thĕbánĕ,
 TR5.602 Fŏr whích thĕ fólk ŏf Thébĕs cáughte hĭre bánĕ.”

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): Impel her heart to want to return as much as you make mine long to see her; then I know that she will not delay. Now, blessed Lord, don’t be so cruel to the Trojans, I beg you, as Juno was to the Theban race, through which the people of Thebes were destroyed!’
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 貴方はおれの気持をあの人に会いたいと切望させたもうように、あの人を帰心矢の如く切実な気持にさせたまいますように。そうすればあの人は長逗留しないはずです。このたびは、至福の神よ、どうかトロイアの血に対して、ユーノーがテーバイの血に対して成されたように、残酷な仕打ちがないように、お願い申し上げます。その結果テーバイの人びとは滅んでしまったのですから。」
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 让她的心中也和我同样的急于回来，然后我方得放心，只有这样她才不致延宕。幸福的神，我求你不可酷待特罗亚的子孙，像裘诺毁灭希白斯的子孙一般。”

Word Information

  • Etymology: blis (OE) + ful
  • Addresser: Troilus
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 5.57)
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: supernatural beings (lord = Cupid)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 294): Now blisful lord, so cruel thow ne be: Now blessed lord, do not be so cruel
  • 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

Troilus invokes Cupid’s mercy to send Criseyde back. This part (5.582-95) finds its counterpart in Fil.5.56-57. Though ‘blisful’ is usually used to describe Venus in Tr, Troilus attaches it twice to Cupid (5.582, 599) in his invocation here.

   Besides, as also mentioned in KnT. 1329–31, Juno is said to have destroyed Thebes due to Jove’s infidelities with the women there.