TR3.435 Ǎnd ál thě whíle whǐch thát Ǐ yów děvýsě, TR3.436 Thǐs wás hǐs líf: wǐth áll hǐs fúllě mýght, TR3.437 By̌ dáy, hě wás ǐn Mártěs héigh sěrvýsě -- TR3.438 Thǐs ís tǒ séyn, ǐn árměs ás ǎ knýght; TR3.439 Ǎnd fór thě mórě párt, thě lóngě nýght TR3.440 Hě láy ǎnd thóughtě hów thǎt hé my̌ghte sérvě TR3.441 Hǐs lády̌ bést, hǐre thónk fǒr tó děsérvě.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And this was the life he led during the whole time that I am telling you about: by day, with all his might, he was in the lofty service of Mars—that is to say, in arms as a knight; and for the greater part of the long night, he lay and thought how he might best serve his lady, in order to deserve her gratitude.
- Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 私が皆さんにお話ししている間の、彼の生活はこうだった。昼は全力を尽くして、マールスに懸命に仕え、すなわち、騎士として懸命に闘い、長い夜は、ほとんど横になって、恋人の感謝を受けるに足るためには、どうしたら最もうまく身を捧げて仕えられるか考えた。
- Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 在这时期他就这样生活着；白天呢，他尽力为马尔斯争光，这就是说，穿上全套武装迎战；长夜里，他却躺着思量如何为爱人尽心，以博取恩情。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Narrator
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): 3.20
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: behaviour (service)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: Not quoted
- Commented in other previous works:
- Windeatt (2003): N/A
- Fisher (1989): N/A
- Benson (1987): N/A
- Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
- Donaldson (1975): N/A
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
lofty, exalted
Comments from the Editor
This stanza follows Fil.3.20, but Chaucer omitted the description of Criseyde as a ‘prize’ for Troilus.