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、顔つきも言薬遣いも慎ましく、漸次話をしながら、両の目から塩辛い涙が両方の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やしてやるために、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，意态谦卑，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: OE
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 4.12
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: greye=Calchas)
• 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

old

Comments from the Editor

This stanza follows Fil.4.12. While Chaucer emphasizes that Calchas pleaded with the Greeks for a significant period of time, it is worth noting that in Fil, all the Greeks quickly reached a consensus to hand over Antenor immediately after Calchas’ speech. See also my comment of ‘final’ (adj., Tr4.145).