alone adj.

  alone 
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 translation (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 translation (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 translation (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: human beings (hym: someone)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

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): Not quoted
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

being on one’s own

Comments from the Editor

In this reference, Pandarus quotes Solomon’s words to persuade Troilus. He underscores that Troilus should take advantage of having someone to confess. A careful reader can easily associate “Wo hym that is allone” with Criseyde, who is “Al unwist of this false and wikked dede [of his father]” and “allone of any frend to whom she dorste hir mone” (1.93, 97-8). The contrast is undoubtedly ironic.