TR1. 743 Ǎnd námělích ǐn hís cǒunséil těllýnge
TR1. 744 Thǎt tóuchěth lóve thǎt óughtě bén sěcrée;
TR1. 745 Fǒr óf hǐmsélf ǐt wól y̌nóugh ǒut sprýnge,
TR1. 746 Bǔt íf thǎt ít thě bét gǒvérněd bé.
TR1. 747 Ěk sóm ty̌me ít ǐs á crǎft tó sěme flé
TR1. 748 Frǒ thýng why̌ch ín ěfféct měn húntě fástě;
TR1. 749 Ǎl thís gǎn Tróǐlús ǐn hís hěrte cástě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): and especially in telling one’s own counsel in matters concerning love that ought to be secret, for it will come to light of itself soon enough, unless it is the better controlled. It is also sometimes expedient to seem to flee from a thing which actually is being hunted eagerly—all this Troilus thought over in his heart.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 殊に、秘密にしておくべき恋について自分の秘密を打ち明ける時にはそうである。そういうものは、うまく抑えておかなければ、ひとりでに飛び出すほど軽いものだから。時には人びとが実際に懸命に追い求めるものから逃げるように見せることも一つの賢明な策である。トロイルスはこれを心の中で考え続けていた。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 尤其爱情的事应该严守秘密；除非你经心防范，这事情本是最容易泄漏的。旁人急于知悉的事，你若能佯作规避，有时倒还是应付目前的一个良方；这一切道理特罗勒斯都放在心里打转。

Word Information

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

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: 3. b. Characterized by reserve or secrecy. Phrase, in secre wyse. (s.v. † secre, adj. and n.)
• MED: 1. (d) of emotion, thoughts: not openly expressed, concealed; ~ meninge, hidden meaning; (s.v. sē̆crẹ̄,adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 35): secree: secret
• Fisher (1989: 412): secre: secret
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): secret, hidden (s.v. secree, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975: 736): secree: secret
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

secret, hidden

Comments from the Editor

As to lines 1.725–855, which are added by Chaucer, see my comment of ‘dere’ (adj., Tr1.817).