TR4.36 Nŏt Í hŏw lónge ŏr shórt ĭt wás bĭtwénĕ
TR4.37 Thĭs púrpŏs ánd thăt dáy thĕy íssĕn méntĕ,
TR4.38 Bŭt ón ă dáy, wĕl ármĕd, bríghte, ănd shénĕ,
TR4.39 Ĕctór ănd mány ̆a wórthĭ wíght ŏut wéntĕ,
TR4.40 Wĭth spére ĭn hónde ănd bíggĕ bówĕs béntĕ;
TR4.41 Ănd ín thĕ hérd, wĭthóutĕn léngĕr léttĕ,
TR4.42 Hĭre fómĕn ín thĕ féld hĕm fástĕ méttĕ.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): I do not know how long or short was the interval between this decision and the day they meant to go forth, but one day Hector and many an excellent man went out well and resplendently armed, with spears in their hands and strong bows bent for action; and without any longer delay they soon encountered their enemies face to face on the field of battle.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): これを決めた日と出撃を予定した日との間隔が長かったか短かったか、どのくらいか、分からないが、ある日、明るくきらびやかに、申し分なく武装して、ヘクトールと多くの優れた兵たちが手に槍としなやかな強弓をもって出陣し、もはやためらうことなく、迅速に戦場で敵と差し向いに対峙した。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 我不知道战略的决定是准备何时才按计划实施；反正到了一天，赫克多和多数将领，著上了璀璨的甲胄冲出城去，手执枪矛，挽起大弓；敌人在战场接住，须眉靠近须眉。

Word Information

• Etymology: OE
• Addresser: Narrator
• Addressee: N/A
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: long
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: time (interval)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative 

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 2a. (a) Of a period of time, a lifetime: brief; also, seeming brief [quot.: c1440]; daies ben ~, there is little time left; (s.v. short, 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): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

(of a period of time) short, brief

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘bright’ (adj., Tr4.38).