TR2. 267 Thǎn thóught hě thús: "Ǐf Í my̌ tále ěndítě
TR2. 268 Ǎught hárde, ǒr máke ǎ prócěs ány̌ whýlě,
TR2. 269 Shě shál nǒ sávǒur háve thěrín bǔt lítě,
TR2. 270 Ǎnd trówe Ǐ wólde hǐre ín my̌ wíl bǐgýlě;
TR2. 271 Fǒr téndrě wíttěs wéněn ál bě wýlě
TR2. 272 Thěrás thěi kán nǒught pléynly̌ únděrstóndě;
TR2. 273 Fǒrthí hǐre wít tǒ sérvěn wól Ǐ fóndě" --

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998):
• Then he thought in this way:
• ‘If I put what I’ve to say at all complicatedly, or make some elaborate story of it for any length of time, she won’t enjoy that very much at all and will think I’m out to deceive her. For sensitive minds imagine it’s all trickery in any case where they can’t completely understand. So I’ll try and adapt what I say to her intelligence.’
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): それから彼はこう思った。「もし言わねばならない事を込み入らせたり、それともそれを長引かせたりしたら、彼女(あれ)のほうは少しも喜ばないだろうし、私が意図して欺いていると思うだろう。知力のない心の持ち主ははっきりと理解ができなければ 万事が策略だと思うだろう。 だから彼女が理解できるレペルに合わせて話をしよう。」
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 他心想，“我如果硬生生地讲出来，或说得过分冗长，她会听不出什么意味，反以为我在欺骗她；脑力单薄的人往往把不易明瞭的事认为有诈；所以我必需依照她的智能讲去才是”—

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Pandarus
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: brain / mind (minds, wits)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive 

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 4. (b) morally weak; unable to resist temptation; also, impressionable; ~ idelnesse, voluptuous idleness (s.v. tender, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 62): For tendre wittes wenen al be wyle: For impressionable minds (tendre wittes) suppose everything is trickery
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

weak,impressionable, sensitive

Comments from the Editor

Refer also to Tr2.132, where Criseyde concedes that her intellectual capacity is limited.