TR5.1492 Shě tólde ěk hów Hěmóny̌dés ǎstértě,
TR5.1493 Whǎn Tíděús slǒugh fífty̌ knýghtěs stóutě.
TR5.1494 Shě tólde ěk álle thě próphěcýes by̌ hértě,
TR5.1495 Ǎnd hów thǎt sévěn kýngěs wíth hǐre róutě
TR5.1496 By̌ségědén thě cítěe ál ǎbóutě;
TR5.1497 Ǎnd óf thě hóly̌ sérpěnt, ánd thě wéllě,
TR5.1498 Ǎnd óf thě fúrǐes, ál shě gán hy̌m téllě;

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): She told too how Maeon, son of Haemon, escaped when Tydeus slew fifty bold knights. She also related all the prophecies by heart, and how seven kings with their army besieged the city all around. She told him all about the holy serpent, and the well and of the Furies:
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): デューデウスが五十人の屈強な騎士を殺した時、マイオンが逃亡したことも語った。色々の予言もことごとく空で語り、七人の王が軍勢を率いて、この都市を包囲したこと、聖なる蛇のこと、河のこと、復讐の女神に扇動された女たちのことなど、すべて語った。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 她还叙述泰德斯杀死了五十壮士，其中惟有黑蒙乃第斯得以脱逃。她将所有的预言都一字不苟地背诵出来，以及七王如何领军围攻城国；又讲到神蛇，泉井，和三个复仇女神的事，

Word Information

• Etymology: OE
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: supernatural beings (the holy serpent)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: (Quoted) 2a. (c) belonging to a pagan god. (s.v. hōlī, adj.(2))

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003): N/A
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987: 580): holy serpent: a serpent sent by Jove to kill Archemorus (Archymoris), infant son of King Lycurgus
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

hallowed, holy; belonging to a pagan god

Comments from the Editor

In 5.1485–512, Chaucer summarizes the events in the twelve books of Statius. See Windeatt (1998: 186–7) for a detailed description of the events. The ‘holy serpent’ is sent by Jove (Jupiter) and it kills Archemorus, infant son of King Lycurgus.