nexte adj.

2023-06-28 Uncategorized

TR1. 694 “Thĕ wísĕ séith, 'Wó hy̆m thăt ís ăllónĕ,
TR1. 695 Fór, ănd hĕ fálle, hĕ háth nŏn hélpe tŏ rýsĕ’;
TR1. 696 Ănd síth thŏw hást ă félăwe, tél thĭ mónĕ;
TR1. 697 Fŏr thís ny̆s náught, cĕrtéin, thĕ néxtĕ wýsĕ
TR1. 698 Tŏ wýnnĕn lóve -- ăs téchĕn ús thĕ wýsĕ --
TR1. 699 Tŏ wálwe ănd wépe ăs Nýŏbé thĕ quéenĕ,
TR1. 700 Whŏs térĕs yét ĭn márblĕ bén y̆séenĕ.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): The wise man says: “Woe to him that is alone, for if he fall, he has no one to help him rise”; and since you do have a friend, tell him what’s making you unhappy. For as wise folk teach us, this isn’t the most direct way to win love — to wallow and weep like Queen Niobe, whose tears can still be seen in marble!
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 賢者は言っています。『独りぼっちは悲しい。倒れても、助け起こしてくれる人がいないから』と。若君には友がいますから、若君の悲しみを打ち明けてください。こういうことは—－賢者がわれわれに教えていますようにーーつまり王妃ニオベーのように身悶えして泣くことはもちろん、愛を勝ち得る一番の近道ではありません、でも彼女の涙は大理石になって未だ見られますが。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 贤者有言，‘凡人孤独自守，惟有和悲哀为伍，他若跌了一跤，也无人来扶他起来；’你既有一个朋友，倾吐你的苦衷就是；获爱最有效的法门，贤人也说过，决不是学尼渥白那样辗转悲号，这位王后的泪痕至今还在石上留存着，后人应该引以为戒。

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Pandarus
Addressee: Troilus
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others
Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

OED: A. adj. (and prep.) I. In attributive use. 1. †c. More generally: closest to hand, most convenient, most readily available. (s.v. next, adj. (and prep.), adv., and n.)
MED: 4. (b) quickest; ?easiest; (s.v. next(e, adj.)

Commented in other previous works:
Windeatt (2003: 33): nexte wyse: most direct way
Fisher (1989: 411): nexte wyse: nearest way
Benson (1987: 483): nexte wyse: most direct manner
Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975: 735): nexte: nearest
Baugh (1963: 92): the nexte wyse: the nearest way

Possible Definitions

nearest, most direct

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘alone’ (adj., Tr1.694).