TR2.1394 "Bǔt, Tróǐlús, yět télle mě, íf thě lést,
TR2.1395 Ǎ thíng nǒw whích thǎt Í shǎl áxěn thé:
TR2.1396 Whǐch ís thǐ bróthěr thát thǒw lóvěst bést,
TR2.1397 Ǎs ín thǐ vérrǎy hértěs prívětée?"
TR2.1398 "Ǐwís, my̌ bróthěr Déiphěbús," quǒd hé.
TR2.1399 "Nǒw," quód Pǎndáre, "ěr hóurěs twýěs twélvě,
TR2.1400 Hě shál thě ése, ǔnwíst ǒf ít hy̌msélvě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998):
•   ‘But Troilus, do tell me, if you would, something I’m now going to ask you: in deepest confidence, which of your brothers do you love best?’
•    ‘My brother Deiphebus, certainly,’ said he.
•    ‘Now,’ said Pandarus, ‘within twenty-four hours he’ll help you, without knowing it himself.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): しかし、トロイルス様、よろしければ、これからおたずねする一つの事柄に、お答えください。まったく心中ひそかに、一番愛しておられるご兄弟はどなたですか。」「もちろん、兄のデイフェーブスだ。」「それでは、二十四時間以内にご自身は訳を知らずに、貴方をお助けいただきましょう。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956):
•   “现在，特罗勒斯，你且告诉我一件事；你心上最喜爱的一个哥哥是谁？”
•     “当然是戴费白斯，“他道。
•     “好，“彭大瑞道，“二十四小时以内他就可以解除你的痛苦，连他自己都不知觉。

Word Information

• Etymology: From witen, v.
• Addresser: Pandarus
• Addressee: Troilus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: Deiphebus)
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: †2. Lacking knowledge (of something); unknowing; not knowing how. Obsolete. (s.v. unwist, adj.)
• MED: 1a. (b) ppls. unwitinge and unwiste, used interchangeably, with active meaning: not knowing, unknowing; ignorant; unaware; also, unaware (of sth., that sth. is so); not knowing (Christ); also, ppl. unwiste as noun: one who is ignorant [last quot.] (s.v. unwiten, v.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 108): unwist: unaware
• Fisher (1989: 441): unwyst: unaware
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): 2. unaware (s.v. unwist, ppl. adj.)
• Donaldson (1975: 798): unwist: unknowing
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

unaware, unknowing

Comments from the Editor

While Pandarus asks Troilus which brother he loves the most, it is likely that he already knows the answer. In the subsequent scene, Pandarus is prepared to treat everyone solely for the sake of Troilus’s love affair. As to the scene at Deiphebus’ house, see my comments on ‘bet’ (adj., 2.1718), ‘bettre’ (adj., 2.1650), ‘certain’ (adj., 2.1364, 1548), ‘closen’ (v. (ppl. as adj.), 2.1534).