TR4.1338 "Whĭ trówĕ yé my̆ fádĕr ín thĭs wísĕ
TR4.1339 Cŏvéytĕth só tŏ sé mĕ, bút fŏr drédĕ
TR4.1340 Lĕst ín thĭs tówn thăt fólkĕs mé dĕspísĕ
TR4.1341 Bĕcáuse ŏf hým, fŏr hís ŭnháppy̆ dédĕ?
TR4.1342 Whăt wóot my̆ fádĕr whát lĭf thát Ĭ lédĕ?
TR4.1343 Fŏr íf hĕ wíste ĭn Tróie hŏw wél Ĭ fárĕ,
TR4.1344 Ŭs nédĕd fór my̆ wéndy̆ng nóught tŏ cárĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): Why do you think my father so desires to see me like this, except for fear in case people in this town despise me on account of him, because of his unfortunate deed? What does my father know about what life I’m leading? For if he knew how well I’m getting on in Troy, we wouldn’t need to care about my leaving.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): なぜ父がこのようにわたしにしきりに会いたがると思います？父が不幸をもたらす行為をしたために、自分のせいで、この町の人びとがわたしを軽蔑するといけないと心配する以外にありましょうか。わたしがどのような生活を送っているか父は何で分かりましょうか。トロイアで私が元気で暮らしていることを父が知っておれば、
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): “你想，为什么我的父亲这样急切要看我？无非是怕城中人士因他的错误而蔑视我。他如何知道我在这里的情况呢？假若他知道我在特罗亚城中很好，我俩此刻也不致因离别而发愁了。

Word Information

• Etymology: From happi, adj.
• Addresser: Criseyde
• Addressee: Troilus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 4.134
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 2. (b) of an action or a deed, an event, a situation: associated with misfortune or disaster, unfortunate; of a day, planet: fraught with misfortune, unlucky; of destiny, chance, a cause, etc.: marked by misfortune or ill-luck, disastrous; (s.v. unhappī,adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 252): unhappy: ill-fated
• Fisher (1989: 498): unhappy: unfortunate
• Benson (1987: 555): unhappy: unfortunate
• Davis et al. (1979): ill-fated, wretched (s.v. unhappy, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

ill-fated, unfortunate

Comments from the Editor

Criseyde surmises that her father is worried because she may be despised in Troy. However, in the equivalent stanza (4.134), Criseida articulates that her father’s worry revolves around the possibility of her suffering mental or physical harm.