TR2.1023 “Tówchy̆ng thĭ léttrĕ, thóu ărt wýs y̆nóugh.
TR2.1024 Ĭ wóot thŏw nýlt ĭt dýgnĕlíche ĕndítĕ,
TR2.1025 Ăs máke ĭt wíth thĭse árgŭméntĕs tóugh;
TR2.1026 Nĕ scrýveny̆ssh ór crăftýly̆ thów ĭt wrítĕ;
TR2.1027 Bĭblótte ĭt wíth thĭ térĭs ék ă lítĕ;
TR2.1028 Ănd íf thŏw wríte ă góodly̆ wórd ăl sóftĕ,
TR2.1029 Thŏugh ít bĕ góod, rĕhérce ĭt nóught tŏ óftĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): ‘Regarding your letter—you’re smart enough. I know you won’t write it with haughty airs, showing off, or being argumentative; and nor should you write it like some secretary, or artfully. Blot it with your tears a bit, too! And if you write some fine and very tender word, even if it’s good, don’t repeat it too often!
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 手紙についてですが、若君は書き方を十分に心得ておられます。私は若君が理屈をこめて難しくするような、高慢ちきな手紙の書き方や、代書屋のような型にはまった書き方を、また技巧に走った書き方も、なさらないことを知っております。ちょっぴり涙で手紙をにじませなさい。そして優しい言葉を非常にやわらかい調子で書くとしましても、いくらいいからといって、何度も繰り返さないでください。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): “至于你给她的信，你当然很会写；我知道你不至轻慢，奏出顽固的论调；也不可像抄书一般呆板，或矫揉造作；却该染些泪渍再上面；可是柔情的话又不可太多。

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: language (argument)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 5. (c) maken (hit) ~, to make difficulties, make things difficult; also, show reluctance (to do sth.) (s.v. though, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 93): make it … tough: show off
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987: 503): make it … tough: put on airs
• Davis et al. (1979): ? show off, put on a performance (s.v. tough, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963: 114): tough: In spite of the fact that in other contexts the phrase to make it tough has special meanings the word here probably has its commoner meaning “difficult.”

Possible Definitions

make it ~: to show off, to make things difficult, to be pressing

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘god’ (adj., Tr2.1029).