TR5. 834 Ănd cértĕynlý ĭn stórye ĭt ís y̆fóundĕ
TR5. 835 Thăt Tróĭlús wăs névere ŭntó nŏ wíght,
TR5. 836 Ăs ín hĭs týme, ĭn nó dĕgrée sĕcóundĕ
TR5. 837 Ĭn dúrry̆ng dón thăt lóngĕth tó ă knýght.
TR5. 838 Ăl mýghte ă géănt pássĕn hým ŏf mýght,
TR5. 839 Hĭs hérte ăy wíth thĕ fírst ănd wíth thĕ béstĕ
TR5. 840 Stŏod párĕgál, tŏ dúrre dŏn thát hy̆m léstĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And certainly, it is found in the stories that in his time Troilus was never in any way second to anyone in daring to do what befits a knight. Although a giant might surpass him in strength, his heart always stood fully equal with the first and the best in daring to do what pleased him.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): きっと歴史の中で見られることだが、騎士に相応しいことを敢えて行なう勇者の点では、トロイルスは彼と同時代のどの人物にも決して引けを取らず、二番目の地位に甘んじてはいなかった。力の点では巨人は彼を凌駕するかもしれないが、己を欲するところを敢えて行なう勇者の点では、彼の心はいつも第一人者か最高の者の部類に十分入った。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 在当时他是惟一忠勇的武士，史乘上都有记载可寻。一个巨人或可超过他的臂力，可是他的雄心却决不后人，敢于担当任何伟业。

Word Information

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

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: †A. adj. 1. a. Fully equal; equal, esp. in power, rank, or value. Obsolete. (s.v. paregal, adj. and n.)
• MED: 1. (a) Of persons, souls, virtues, persons of the Trinity: equal in worth, rank, prowess, etc.; of sorrow: equal in intensity; ~ to (unto, with); (s.v. paregal, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 304): In durryng don that longeth to a knyght. Al myghte a geant passen hym of myght, His herte ay with the first and with the beste Stood paregal, to durre don that hym leste: In daring to do (durryng don) that which befits (longeth to) a knight. Although a giant might surpass him in strength (myght), his heart was always fully equal (paregal) to the first and best in daring to do what he wished
• Fisher (1989: 516): stod paregal: stood equal
• Benson (1987: 571): paregal: fully equal
• Davis et al. (1979): fully equal (s.v. paregal, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975: 963): paregal: on equal terms
• Baugh (1963: 195): paregal: fully equal

Possible Definitions

fully equal

Comments from the Editor

The instance of ‘paregal’ here is the only one throughout Chaucer’s works. See also my comment of ‘entechen’ (v., Tr5.832).