TR5.1562 Fǒr whóm, ǎs óldě bókěs téllěn ús,
TR5.1563 Wǎs mád swǐch wó thǎt tónge ǐt máy nǎt téllě,
TR5.1564 Ǎnd námělý, thě sórwe ǒf Tróǐlús,
TR5.1565 Thǎt néxt hy̌m wás ǒf wórthy̌néssě wéllě;
TR5.1566 Ǎnd ín thǐs wó gǎn Tróǐlús tǒ dwéllě
TR5.1567 Thǎt, whát fǒr sórwe, ǎnd lóve, ǎnd fór ǔnréstě,
TR5.1568 Fǔl ófte ǎ dáy hě bád hǐs hértě bréstě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): For him, as old books tell us, such lamentation was made that tongue may not tell of it, and especially the sorrow of Troilus, who, next to Hector, was the fount of excellence. And in this misery Troilus remained, so that, what for sorrow, and love, and a troubled mind, he many times a day bade his heart to break.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): むかしの書物がわれらに伝えるところによると、彼を悼んで言語に絶するほどの悲嘆の声があがった。とりわけ、ヘクトールに次いで勇武の源泉だったトロイルスの悲しみは大きかった。この悲嘆のままにトロイルスは居残り、悲しみやら、愛やら、不安やらのために、日に何度も胸に、張り裂けよと言った。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 古书上记载着，赫克多之死所引起的无限哀悼是言语所难形容的；而特罗勒斯悲哀尤甚；在赫克多之后他就是一个无匹的英豪了。 特罗勒斯伤痛着，为了愁，为了爱，为了心头的撩乱，他一日之中要多少次心痛欲碎。

Word Information

• Etymology: OE
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 8.1)
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: book (books)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

• 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): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

old, belonging to the past

Comments from the Editor

This stanza partially follows Fil.8.1, but Chaucer places emphasis on the fact that after Hector’s death, Troilus becomes the most exceptional knight. However, the narrator highlights that Troilus, who was once the epitome of a knight, now prioritizes his role as a lover. This shift implies that Troy is destined for destruction since their greatest warrior is now more invested in matters of love than in his knightly duties.