TR1.351 Bŭt fór ăl thís, whăn thát hĕ sáy hĭs týmĕ, TR1.352 Hĕ héld hĭs pées -- nŏn óthĕr bóote hy̆m gáynĕd -- TR1.353 Fŏr lóve bĭgán hĭs fétherĕs só tŏ lýmĕ TR1.354 Thăt wél ŭnnéthe ŭntíl hĭs fólk hĕ fáynĕd TR1.355 Thăt óthĕr bésy̆ nédĕs hým dĕstráynĕd; TR1.356 Fŏr wó wăs hým, thăt whát tŏ dóon hĕ nýstĕ, TR1.357 Bŭt bád hĭs fólk tŏ gón whĕr thát hĕm lístĕ.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): But despite all this, when he saw his time he held his peace — no other remedy was of any help to him — for love began so to lime his feathers that he could scarcely even pretend to his household that other pressing needs preoccupied him. He was so unhappy that he did not know what to do, but told his people to go where they pleased.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): しかしこう言ったけれども、もう潮時だと見てとると、黙ったー他のどんな手立ても得られなかったのだ―愛が彼の羽を鳥もちで捕え始めたので、家臣たちに、何か他の用務に忙殺されている振りがかろうじてできる程度になりはててしまった。彼は悲しかったので、どうしてよいか分からず、家臣たちにどこでも好きな所へ行ってもよいと命じた。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 他虽发着这套言论，但到了相当时候还是守住缄默，可是单凭缄默也属无用；因为爱情已把诱黐涂上了他的羽翼，凭他如何假托旁事，独自纳闷，终难免被他手下的人看破真情；烦恼使他不知怎样自处，只得暂且打发侍从们出外自由闲步。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Narrator
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 1.32, 7)
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: activity or occupation (needs)
- Attributive/ Predicative: attributive
Information in Previous Studies
- OED: Not quoted
- MED: (Quoted) 5. (b) constant, vigorous (effort); don ~ peine, take pains; urgent (matter, request, etc.); (s.v. bisī, adj.)
- 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: 723): bisy: exacting
- Baugh (1963): N/A
Possible Definitions
urgent, pressing; exacting
Comments from the Editor
Chaucer added the simile comparing Troilus to a bird caught by birdlime (see also WB. 934).