TR3.239 “My̆n áldĕrlévĕst lórd, ănd bróthĕr déerĕ,
TR3.240 Gŏd wóot, ănd thów, thăt ít săt mé sŏ sóorĕ,
TR3.241 Whăn Í thĕ sáugh sŏ lángwĭsshýng tŏ-yérĕ
TR3.242 Fŏr lóve, ŏf whích thĭ wó wăx álwĕy móorĕ,

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translation (Windeatt: 1998): ‘My most beloved lord and dear brother, God knows, and you know, that it upset me so badly when I saw you languishing so this year for love — and your unhappiness over that was increasing all the time
• Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): 「最愛の若君、親愛なる兄弟よ、今年若君が愛のためにしだいに弱っていかれ、悲しみが常にいや増していかれるのを見ました時、神も、若君もご存じのように、私はひどく心を痛めました。
• Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): “我最亲爱的主公，和最好的兄弟，上帝和你都明白，这一年来我见你为了爱情而愁虑，消瘦下来，我心中是何等焦急，

Word Information

• Etymology: alder (ME) + levest (OE)
• Addresser: Pandarus
• Addressee: Troilus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: dear
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): car (caro) (3.5, 3)
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: Troilus)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: (Quoted) dearest of all, most dear. (s.v. alderliefest, adj. Brit.)
• MED: (Quoted) 1. ~levest, dearest of all (s.v. alder-, pref.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 133): alderlevest: very dearest  
• Fisher (1989: 456): alderlevest: dearest of all
• Benson (1987: 517): alderlevest: most beloved
• Davis et al. (1979): very dearest (s.v. alderlevest, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975: 819): alderlevest: dearest of all
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

very dearest, dearest of all, most beloved

Comments from the Editor

Pandarus comes to talk with Troilus in his resting room after Troilus and Criseyde’s first private meeting in Deiphebus’s house. In Fil, however, this scene occurs in a temple.