woful adj.

  Uncategorized
TR4. 512 "Sy̌n thát thǒu sléest sǒ féle ǐn sóndry̌ wýsě
TR4. 513 Ǎyéns hǐre wíl, ǔnpréyěd, dáy ǎnd nýght,
TR4. 514 Dǒ mé ǎt mý rěquéstě thís sěrvícě:
TR4. 515 Dělýverě nów thě wórld -- sǒ dóstǒw ríght --
TR4. 516 Ǒf mé, thǎt ám thě wófǔlléstě wýght
TR4. 517 Thǎt éverě wás; fǒr týme ǐs thát Ǐ stérvě,
TR4. 518 Sy̌n ín thǐs wórld ǒf ríght nǒught máy Ǐ sérvě."

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998): Since you kill so many in various ways, against their will, unasked for, day and night, do me this service at my request! Now rid the world of me—you’d be doing the right thing—who am the most sorrowful person that ever was, for it’s time for me to die, since I can serve no useful purpose at all in this world!’
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012):  お前は非常に多くの人びとを、日夜、頼まれもしないのに、彼らの本意に反して、いろいろな方法で殺しているのだから、おれの頼みに応じて、おれのためにこれに一肌脱いでおくれ。さあおれをこの世から―お前は立派な事をしているのなら―取り除いておくれ、おれは今までにない一番悲惨な男なのだ。今がおれの死ぬ時期なのだ、この世でまったく役に立つことをしていないのだから。」
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 你常以不同的方式,冷不防地日夜杀人,并不顾人们愿不愿意,而此刻我却恳求你赐我一死,愿你释放我这个世上最可怜的人;我活着已不中用,该是我的日子到了头。”

Word Information

  • Etymology: From wo, n.
  • Addresser: Troilus
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): 4.62
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: Troilus)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: Not quoted
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 219): wofulleste: most sorrowful
  • Fisher (1989): N/A
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

sad, sorrowful

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘sondri’ (adj., Tr4.512).