TR5.127 “Ǎnd bý thě cáuse Ǐ swór yǒw ríght, lǒ, nów,
TR5.128 Tǒ bén yǒure frénd, ǎnd hélply̌, tó my̌ mýght,
TR5.129 Ǎnd fór thǎt móre ǎquáyntǎunce ék ǒf yów
TR5.130 Hǎve ích hǎd thán ǎnóthěr stráungěr wíght,
TR5.131 Sǒ fró thǐs fórth, Ǐ práy yǒw, dáy ǎnd nýght
TR5.132 Cǒmáunděth mé, hǒw sóorě thát mě smértě,
TR5.133 Tǒ dón ǎl thát mǎy líke ǔntó yǒure hértě;

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): Because I swore to you just now to be your friend and as helpful as I could, and because I’ve also had more acquaintance with you than any other stranger has, then from this time forward, day and night, I beg you: command me to do everything that may please your heart,
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 何しろ僕は、ほら、たった今も、貴女に誓いましたから、貴女の友だちになって、力の限り、お役に立ちましょうと。それに他の見知らぬギリシャ人の誰よりも僕は貴女にお近づきをえましたから。そこでこれからずっと、お願いしますが、昼であれ夜であれ、どんな辛いことであれ、僕に命じてください。貴女のお心を癒すすべてのことをいたしますから。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 就是我就马上可以立誓做你的好友，尽心扶助你，我比旁的希腊人已和你相识较深，从今以后我将日夜请命于你，只要能使你如愿的事，我必不辞任何劳苦为你奔走；

Word Information

• Etymology: From help
• Addresser: Diomede
• Addressee: Criseyde
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: Diomede)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: (Quoted) 1. (a) Helpful, serviceable, beneficial, useful; ~ hond, helping hand; ~ beste, draught animal, beast of burden; lesinges ~, supporting lies; (s.v. helplī(ch, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 274): helply: helpful
• Fisher (1989: 506): helply to: helpful to the extent of
• Benson (1987: 562): helply: helpful
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975: 939): helply: helpful
• Baugh (1963: 184): helply, to my myght: helpful to the best of my ability

Possible Definitions

helpful, serviceable

Comments from the Editor

This part 5.91–189 of Diomede courting Criseyde is added by Chaucer, making him more prepared and at the mean time blunter in his love to Criseyde.