TR1. 631 "Ǎ whéstǒn ís nǒ kérvy̌ng ínstrǔmént,
TR1. 632 Bǔt yét ǐt mákěth shárppě kérvy̌ng tólǐs;
TR1. 633 Ǎnd thére thǒw wóost thǎt Í hǎve áught my̌swént,
TR1. 634 Ěschúw thǒw thát, fǒr swích thǐng tó thě scóle ǐs;
TR1. 635 Thǔs óftěn wísě mén běn wár by̌ fóoly̌s.
TR1. 636 Ǐf thów dǒ só, thǐ wít ǐs wél běwárěd;
TR1. 637 By̌ hís cǒntrárie ǐs évery̌ thýng děclárěd.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998): and a whetstone is no cutting instrument, yet it sharpens cutting tools. And where you know I’ve gone wrong in any way, avoid that yourself, because such a thing can be a lesson to you. So wise men often take warning from the example of what happens to fools. If you do so, you’ll be using your head. Everything is known for what it is by its opposite.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 砥石は物を切る道具でありません。しかし物を切る道具を研ぎ澄まします。だから若君は私がいやしくも道に迷ったと分かる場所を避けてください、それが若君の教訓となりましょうから。このように賢者は愚者に諭されることがよくあります。もしそうなさるなら、若君の才は役に立つことになり、万事はその裏によって明らかにされることになるのです
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 一块磨刀石固非斩切的工具，却能把刀剪磨得锋利。我所走错的路你可以避免，我就好比是你的学校；因此，贤者常以愚人为前车之鉴。你苟能如此，你的智力才算是运用得宜；所以凡事应正反相比，自然就可明白。

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 (tools)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: 1. (a) Of a weapon, tool, etc.: sharp of edge, keen; of a spear, pick, needle, thorn, etc.: sharp of point; also fig. [quot.: c1400 Bk.Mother 38/27]; (s.v. sharp, adj.)

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003): N/A
• Fisher (1989): N/A
• Benson (1987): N/A
• Davis et al. (1979): sharp (s.v. sharp, adj.)
• Donaldson (1975): N/A
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

sharp of edge

Comments from the Editor

This stanza is an addition made by Chaucer. In this stanza, Pandarus attempts to persuade Troilus that even though he (Pandarus) may have had failures in love, he can still offer valuable advice to Troilus. For further analysis and understanding of the proverbs used in this stanza, please refer to Windeatt (1998: 158).