TR1.834 “Yĕ, só thŏw séyst,” quŏd Tróilŭs thó, “ăllás!
TR1.835 Bŭt, Gód wŏot, ít ĭs náught thĕ ráthĕr só.
TR1.836 Fŭl hárd wĕre ít tŏ hélpĕn ín thĭs cás,
TR1.837 Fŏr wél fy̆nde Í thăt Fórtŭne ís my̆ fó;
TR1.838 Nĕ ál thĕ mén thăt rídĕn kónne ŏr gó
TR1.839 Măy óf hĭre crúĕl whíel thĕ hárm wĭthstóndĕ;
TR1.840 Fŏr ás hĭre líst shĕ pléyeth wĭth frée ănd bóndĕ.”

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translation (Windeatt: 1998) (Windeatt: 1998): ‘Yes, so you say,’ said Troilus then, ‘alas! But God knows, it won’t happen any sooner. It would be very hard to help in this case, for I find indeed that Fortune in my enemy, and all the men that can ride or walk cannot withstand the harm done by her cruel wheel, for she toys with everyone as she pleases, whether free or slave.’
• Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012) (Sasamoto: 2012): 「そなたはそう言うけれど」とその時トロイルスは言った。「ああ、しかし、実際のところ、そうはいかないだろう。この場合、助けることは非常にむずかしいだろう。＜運命の女神＞はおれの敵だということがよく分かったからだ。馬で行けるお偉方であれ、徒歩の御仁であれ、誰であっても女神の残酷な車輪の害に耐えることができないのだ。女神には自由人にも奴隷にも気ままに弄ぶのだから。」
• Chinese translation (Fang: 1956) (Fang: 1956): “好，你倒说得痛快，”特罗勒斯道，“可是，天晓得，事情却没有这样简单；命运在同我作对，想帮忙恐怕也实在不容易，凡在世上呼吸生存的人都无从挽回命轮转出来的祸害；她任意玩弄世人，何论贵贱主奴。”

Word Information

• Etymology: OF
• Addresser: Troilus
• Addressee: Pandarus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: supernatural beings (Fortune’s wheel)
• Attributive/ Predicative: attributive

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: (Quoted) 5. (b) unrelenting, stern, austere (s.v. crūē̆l, adj.)

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

Possible Definitions

unrelenting, cruel, pitiless 

Comments from the Editor

Troilus and Pandarus undertake a Philosophy-and-Boethius-like talk. Troilus emphasises that nobody can withstand the harm done by Fortune’s cruel wheel, whereas Pandarus in the following context states that Fortune keeps turning her wheel but Troilus’s Fortune is most probably rising. See also my comment of ‘commune’ (adj. Tr1.843).