TR1. 547 By̌wáylǐng ín hǐs chámbrě thús ǎllóně,
TR1. 548 Ǎ frénd ǒf hís thǎt cállěd wás Pǎndárě
TR1. 549 Cǒm óoněs ín ǔnwár, ǎnd hérde hy̌m gróoně,
TR1. 550 Ǎnd sáy hǐs frénd ǐn swích děstrésse ǎnd cárě:
TR1. 551 "Ǎllás," quǒd hé, "whǒ cáusěth ál thǐs fárě?
TR1. 552 Ǒ mércy̌, Gód! Whǎt únhǎp máy thǐs méeně?
TR1. 553 Hǎn nów thǔs sóoně Grékěs máad yǒw léeně?

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): While he was bewailing alone like this in his room, a friend of his called Pandarus came in unexpectedly, heard him groan, and saw his friend in this distress and sorrow. ‘Alas,’ said he, ‘who’s the cause of all this to-do? O mercy, God! What misfortune can this mean? Have the Greeks made you lose weight so soon?
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): このようにして独り私室で嘆いていると、パンダルスと呼ばれる彼の友が、思いがけず突然やって来て、うめき声を聞き、このような苦悩と悲しみに打ちしおれている友を見た。「ああ、誰のせいでこんな騒ぎになったのですか。おやまあ、あれあれ！どんな悪いことがあったのですか。こんなに早くやつれさせたのはギリシャ人どもですか。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 有一天，他正在房中独自悲啼，他的友人彭大瑞偶来探访，听见他在呻吟，见他悲感无已：“呀，”他道，“谁把你害到这步田地？天哪！这是什么凶兆？难道是希腊人伤了你的心使你立刻消瘦下来？

Word Information

• Etymology: OE
• Addresser: Pandarus
• Addressee: Troilus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 2.1
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: Troilus)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 1. (e) weak, debilitated; maken ~, to weaken (sb. or sth.) (s.v. lēne, adj.(1))

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 27): leene: thin
• Fisher (1989: 409): lene: feeble
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975: 730): lene: lean, emaciated
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

lean, thin, feeble

Comments from the Editor

The corresponding passage to this quote can be found in the opening scene of Book II in Fil. However, Chaucer chose to place it in the middle of his Book I. See also my comment of ‘angry’ (adj., Tr1.562).