TR4.127 Télly̌ng hǐs tále ǎlwéy, thǐs óldě gréyě,
TR4.128 Húmble ǐn hǐs spéche ǎnd ín hǐs lóky̌ng ékě,
TR4.129 Thě sáltě térǐs fróm hǐs éyěn twéyě
TR4.130 Fǔl fástě rónněn dówn by̌ éithěr chékě.
TR4.131 Sǒ lónge hě gán ǒf sócǒur hém bǐsékě
TR4.132 Thǎt, fór tǒ héle hy̌m óf hǐs sórwěs sóorě,
TR4.133 Thěy yáve hy̌m Ántěnór, wǐthóutěn móorě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): As this old greybeard told his tale, humble in his speech and in his looks too, the salt tears ran down copiously from his eyes over both cheeks. He begged them for help for so long that, to cure him of his grievous sorrows, they granted him Antenor without more ado.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): この半白の顎鬚の老賢者は、顔つきも言葉遣いも慎ましく、漸次話をしながら、両の目から塩辛い涙が両頬を伝っておびただしく流れ落ちた。彼は大変長いこと彼らに救いを求めたので、彼らは彼の痛々しい悲しみを癒してやるために、アンテノールを、苦心することなく彼に譲渡した。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 这苍白老人诉着冤屈，意能谦卑，两眼不断流下泪来，沾湿了两颊。他恳求得很久，他们于是答应将恩吞诺去交换，以解除他的愁痛。

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 4.12
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: speech (Calchas’s speech) and appearance or aspect (Calchas’s looks) or human beings (male: Calchas) or
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: (Quoted) 1. (a) Of persons: humble; ?also, obedient, loyal; ~ folk, people of low degree; ~ servaunt, ~ lege, etc.;  (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 etc.) lowly, meek, humbly, respectfully

Comments from the Editor

This stanza follows closely to Fil.12, but in Fil, after Calchas’s speech, the Greeks all shouted: “Let Antenor be given him.” Chaucer, however, did not apply the direct speech.