werste adj. & n.

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TR1. 337 “Ĭn nóuncĕrtéyn bĕn álle yŏure óbsĕrváuncĕs,
TR1. 338 Bŭt ít ă sély̆ féwĕ póintĕs bé;
TR1. 339 Nĕ nó thĭng áskĕth só grĕt áttĕndáuncĕs
TR1. 340 Ăs dóth yŏure láy, ănd thát knŏwe állĕ yé;
TR1. 341 Bŭt thát ĭs nát thĕ wórste, ăs móte Ĭ thé!
TR1. 342 Bŭt, tólde Ĭ yów thĕ wórstĕ póint, Ĭ lévĕ,
TR1. 343 Ăl séyde Ĭ sóth, yĕ wóldĕn át mĕ grévĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998): All your observances are without any certainty, unless in a few insignificant details. Nothing requires dedication as great as does your devotion, and that you all know. But that’s not the worst of it, bless me! I believe that if I told you the worst thing—even though I were telling the truth—you’d be offended with me.
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): そなたらが戒律をすべて守ったとて、わずかの瑣末な点を除けば、その甲斐があるとは限らない。そなたらの戒律の信仰ほど大変な献身を要求するものはないよ、それをそなたらは皆よく知っている。しかし、誓って言うが、それは最悪のことではないよ!でもね、おれがそなたらに最悪のことを語れば、まず、たとえ真実を語っているとしても、おれのことを怒るだろうね。
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 听凭你们怎样遵奉范仪,但除却一些不相干的小恩小惠之外,其他都是捉摸不定的;同时你们也十分明白,任何信仰都用不着像你们在情场上那样的虔诚;不但如此,我若果真道破真情,和盘托出,不管我讲得如何真切,恐怕你们还是要责我乱说!

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Troilus
  • Addressee: lovers
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others (pointe)
  • 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

most unpleasant, most unfortunate

Comments from the Editor

See my comment on ‘conning’ (ppl. adj., Tr1.331).