TR5.1800 Thě wráth, ǎs Í bǐgán yǒw fór tǒ séyě,
TR5.1801 Ǒf Tróǐlús thě Grékǐs bóughtěn déerě,
TR5.1802 Fǒr thóusǎndés hǐs hónděs máděn déyě,
TR5.1803 Ǎs hé thǎt wás wǐthóutěn ány̌ péerě,
TR5.1804 Sǎve Éctǒr, ín hǐs týme, ǎs Í kǎn héerě.
TR5.1805 Bǔt -- wéilǎwéy, sǎve ónly̌ Gódděs wíllě,
TR5.1806 Děspítǒuslý hy̌m slóugh thě fíěrse Ǎchíllě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): As I began to tell you, the Greeks paid dearly for the wrath of Troilus, for thousands died at the hands of one who was without any equal in his time, except Hector, as far as I can hear. But alas—except that it was God’s will—fierce Achilles slew him pitilessly!
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 前にちょっとお話したように、トロイルスの怒りによってギリシャ方は高価な犠牲を払い、彼の手にかかって何千もの兵が命を奪われたのである。聞くところによると、その当時ヘクトールを除けば、トロイルスは比類なき猛者だったからだ。だが、ああ悲しいかな、神のご意志なら仕方がないが、彼は冷酷なアキレウスに無残にも殺されたのだ。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 我正讲到希腊人因特罗勒的盛怒而牺牲了多少性命，据我所知，除赫克多而外，没有再比他英勇的人物了，他一手所斩杀的人辄以千数。但是，说来令人伤心，实在也是天意，那凶猛的阿基利斯竟将他残害了。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 8.27
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED:  (Quoted) 2. (a) Of persons: ferocious, violent, cruel; wild, untamed; also, rash, impetuous; (s.v. fẹ̄rs, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 344): fierse: ferocious
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

violent, ferocious

Comments from the Editor

Although this stanza concurs with Fil.8.27, Chaucer intentionally emphasizes that Troilus is Hector the second (also refer to 2.740, 3.1775). Benoit’sRoman de Troie (21440–50) relates that after Achilles killed Troilus, he cut his head off and dragged his body behind his horse’s tail.