TR5. 379 “Wěl wórthe ǒf dréměs áy thǐse óldě wívěs,
TR5. 380 Ǎnd tréwelǐche ék ǎugúry̌e óf thǐse fówlěs,
TR5. 381 Fǒr fére ǒf whích měn wéněn lése hěre lývěs,
TR5. 382 Ǎs réveněs quálm, ǒr shríchy̌ng óf thǐse ówlěs.
TR5. 383 Tǒ trówěn ón ǐt bóthě fáls ǎnd fóul ǐs.
TR5. 384 Ǎllás, ǎllás, sǒ nóble ǎ créǎtúrě
TR5. 385 Ǎs ís ǎ mán shǎl dréděn swích ǒrdúrě!

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): Dreams are all very well for old women, and truly, divination from the birds as well—such as the croaking of ravens, or screeching of these owls—for fear of which men think they’ll lose their lives. Believing in it is both mistaken and shameful. Alas, alas, that such a noble creature as is man should fear such rubbish!
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 夢判断なんていつも老婆にこそ相応しいのです、そして鳥の占いも然りです、例えば鴉の不吉な鳴き声とか、梟の甲高い耳障りな鳴き声ように、人はその恐怖心のために生命を落とすのではないかと思うのです。それを信じるのは間違っていますし、汚らわしいですよ。ああ、ああ、人間の如き高貴な創造物がそのようなたわけたことを恐れるとは！
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956):
• 只有老妇们爱谈梦，或以鸟占吉凶，如乌鸦报死，枭鸟告灾，人们听了就认为命不可保。若相信这些话，不但无聊，并且可鄙。呀，人为万物之灵，竟而懦怯低贱至于如此！

Word Information

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

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 1a. (d) ~ quene (wif, womman), a woman well-advanced in age; also, used disparagingly; (s.v. ōld(e, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 285): ‘Wel worthe of dremes ay thise olde wives: May it always be well with these old woman, regarding dreams (i.e. let old women believe in dreams), and truly, also, divination (augurye) by means of these birds
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987: 565): “Wel worthe of dremes ay thise olde wives: May it always be well with these old women concerning dreams (i.e., leave dreams to old women)
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975: 947): Wel worthe of dremes ay thise olde wives: i.e., Let old women do what they can with dreams
• Baugh (1963: 188): Wel worthe of dremes ay thise olde wives: well be it ever to these old women as for dreams, i.e. let them believe in dreams

Possible Definitions

old

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘fals’ (adj., Tr5.383).