TR2.820 Thĭs yérd wăs lárge, ănd ráylĕd álle th’ăléyĕs, TR2.821 Ănd shádewĕd wél wĭth blósmy̆ bówĕs grénĕ, TR2.822 Ănd bénchĕd néwe, ănd sóndĕd álle thĕ wéyĕs, TR2.823 Ĭn whích shĕ wálkĕth árm ĭn árm bĭtwénĕ, TR2.824 Tĭl át thĕ láste Ăntígŏné thĕ shénĕ TR2.825 Gán ŏn ă Tróĭan sóng tŏ síngĕn cléerĕ, TR2.826 Thăt ít ăn hévĕn wás hĭre vóis tŏ hérĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): This garden was extensive, and all the paths were railed off, and well shaded with flowery green boughs, furnished with benches newly topped with turf; and the paths were sanded, where she walked arm in arm, until at last fair Antigone began to sing a Trojan song, so that is was heaven to hear her clear voice:
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 中庭は大きく、どの小道も生け垣で仕切られ、花咲き緑したたる枝々によって木陰が与えられていた。新しくベンチが据えられ、道全体に砂利が撒かれていた。そこをクリセイデは、姪たちに挟まれて、腕組み合って歩いた。やがて快活なアンティゴネーは、トロイアの歌を澄んだ声で歌い始めた。その声を聞くと天国にいるようだった。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 那院落宽广，园径两旁都有栏杆，掩映着花枝，长椅新设，路径铺沙，她夹在中间，挽着她们的手膀散步，美貌的恩娣供妮唱起一只特罗亚的情曲，清脆的音调，使人听了好似进了天界一般。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Narrator
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: fertile land or place (the garden)
- Attributive/ Predicative: predicative
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: (Quoted) 1. a. Of a room, courtyard, ship, galley, etc.: furnished with benches. Also with about, round. (s.v. benched, adj.)
- MED: 1. (b) of a garden or the like: furnished with turf-covered mounds used for seats. (s.v. benched, adj.)
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003: 85): benched newe: furnished with new benches (n.)
- Fisher (1989: 436): benched: provided with turf-covered mounds to sit on
- Benson (1987: 500): benched newe: furnished with new benches (topped with turf; see ProLGW G 98)
- Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) provided with benches (s.v. benched, p.p.)
- Donaldson (1975: 778): benched: provided with benches of turf
- Baugh (1963: 111): benched: provided with benches. In medieval gardens these were sometimes mounds covered with turf. Cf. Mch T, E 2235.
Possible Definitions
furnished with benches (turf-covered mounds used for seats)
Comments from the Editor
Windeatt (1998: 164) clarifies that the garden described in the above quotation “has the features of a typical medieval English garden, with sanded paths railed by palings (generally painted), and with benches (made of earth, with wooden or walled sides, topped with turf).” This comment evinces that Chaucer integrates the Trojan love story with his contemporary London.