woful adj.

2023-07-09 Uncategorized

TR2. 568 “Ănd Gód wŏot, néverĕ síth thăt Í wăs bórn
TR2. 569 Wăs Í sŏ bésy̆ nó măn fór tŏ préchĕ,
TR2. 570 Nĕ néverĕ wás tŏ wíght sŏ dépe ĭswórn,
TR2. 571 Ŏr hé mĕ tóld whŏ mýghtĕ bén hĭs léchĕ.
TR2. 572 Bŭt nów tŏ yów rĕhércĕn ál hĭs spéchĕ,
TR2. 573 Ŏr álle hĭs wófŭl wórdĕs fór tŏ sównĕ,
TR2. 574 Nĕ bíd mĕ náught, bŭt yé wŏl sé mĕ swównĕ.

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): And, God knows, never since I was born was I so busy lecturing anyone, nor ever so deeply sworn to secrecy, before he would tell me who might be the doctor to cure his illness. Now don’t ask me to repeat to you all he said, all his sad words — unless you want to see me swoon!
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 神に誓って、生まれてこのかた、どなたが若君の悩みを癒す人なのかおっしゃるまで、私は誰にもあれほど説諭するのに勤しんだことがないし、他人には秘密にすると、あれほど誓ったこともない。でもね今若君の話を詳しく話すよう、また若君の悲痛な言葉を繰り返すよう、私が気絶するのを見たくなければ、せがまないでおくれ。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 上天知道，我有生以来没有那样为任何人忙着说教的，在他还未说出谁是他的救命恩人之前，我不知发了多大的誓愿。你若要我复述他的伤心语，我就会在你面前晕厥。

Word Information

Etymology: From wo, n.
Addresser: Pandarus
Addressee: Criseyde
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 2.63)
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: speech (Troilus’ words)
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): sorrowful, sad (words) (s.v. woful, adj.)
Donaldson (1975): N/A
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

sad, sorrowful

Comments from the Editor

See my comment of ‘bisi’ (adj., Tr2.569).