humble adj.

2022-09-20 humble

TR1.120 “Ǎnd ál th’ǒnóur thǎt mén mǎy dón yǒw hávě,
TR1.121 Ǎs férfǒrth ás yǒure fáděr dwéllěd hérě,
TR1.122 Yě shúl hǎve, ánd yǒure bódy̌ shál měn sávě,
TR1.123 Ǎs fér ǎs Í mǎy óught ěnquére ǒr hérě.”
TR1.124 Ǎnd shé hy̌m thónkěd wíth fǔl húmblě chérě,
TR1.125 Ǎnd óftěr wólde, ǎnd ít hǎdde bén hǐs wíllě,
TR1.126 Ǎnd tóok hǐre léve, ǎnd hóm, ǎnd héld hǐr stíllě.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And you shall have all the honour that people can accord you, as much as when your father lived here. And, as far as I’m able to learn or hear anything about it, no one will lay a finger on you.’ She thanked him with a very humble demeanour and would have thanked him more often if he had let her, and took her leave. and went home and lived quietly.
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): お父上がここで暮らしていた間、人びとからうけた厚遇を今まで通り受けなさい、わしの方はできるだけ気を配って、貴方の身を守らせましょう。」クリセイデはまことに慎ましい態度でヘクトールに感謝した。彼が望んだならば何度でも感謝したことだろう。それからいとまごいをして家に帰り、静かに引きこもった。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 只当是你父亲还在这里一样，人人都应尊敬你，我必尽我所能，使你的身体受到保障。”她于是很谦卑地道谢，若不是他拦阻，她还要一再谢恩，然后告辞回家，守住缄默。

Word Information

Etymology: OF
Addresser: Narrator
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): 1.14
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: attitude (Criseyde’s chere)
Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

OED: (Quoted) 1. Having a low estimate of one’s importance, worthiness, or merits; marked by the absence of self-assertion or self-exaltation; lowly: the opposite of proud. b. Of qualities, attributes, actions, etc. (s.v. humble, adj.)
MED: (Quoted) 1. (c) of actions, behavior, manner, purpose, voice, etc.: meek, lowly, respectful, reverent; gon an ~ pas, to live abjectly; (s.v. humble, adj.)

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

(of actions, behaviour, manner, attitude) lowly, meek

Comments from the Editor

After her father’s betrayal, Criseyde pleads with Ector for mercy. In Fil.1.12, Criseida accuses her father, but we are not told whether Chaucer’s Criseyde has done so.