alone adj.

  alone 
TR4.295 “Whăt shál Ĭ dón? Ĭ shál, whĭle Í măy dúrĕ
TR4.296 Ŏn lýve ĭn tórmĕnt ánd ĭn crúwĕl péynĕ
TR4.297 Thĭs ínfŏrtúne ŏr thís dĭsávĕntúrĕ,
TR4.298 Ăllóne ăs Í wăs bórn, ĭwýs, cŏmpléynĕ;
TR4.299 Nĕ néverĕ wól Ĭ séen ĭt shýne ŏr réynĕ,
TR4.300 Bŭt énde Ĭ wól, ăs Édĭppe, ín dĕrknéssĕ
TR4.301 My̆ sórwfŭl líf, ănd dýĕn ín dĭstréssĕ.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translation (Windeatt: 1998): What shall I do? As long as I can endure alive, in torment and in cruel pain, I shall lament this misfortune or this calamity, all alone as I was born! Nor will I ever see it rain or shine but, like Oedipus, I will end my sorrowful life in darkness and die in anguish!
  • Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): おれはどうしようか。攻め苦とむごい苦しみのうちに生き長らえている間、この不幸もしくはこの不運を、生まれた時のように独りぼっちで、きっと、嘆いているだろう。日が照るとか雨が降るとかの変化を決して見ることなく、悲しい一生を、オィディプスのように、暗闇の中で終えて、おれは苦悶のうちに死のう。
  • Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 我怎么办呢？我能忍痛一天，仍将独自抱怨着这厄运；不论风晴雨雪，我将和葛狄波斯一样在黑暗中了结这愁苦的余生。

Word Information

  • Etymology: OE
  • Addresser: Troilus
  • Addressee: N/A
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 4.33-4)
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: human beings (male: Troilus)
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED: (Quoted) 1b. (a) Without companions, kindred, or competitors; solitary, lonely, deserted; alone; ~ of kin (frend), without kin (friends); him ~, by himself; hirself ~, to herself; ~ as he was born, utterly alone; (s.v. al-ōn(e, adv. & adj.)
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003): N/A
  • Fisher (1989: 488): Allone: MA Allas
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): (Quoted) alone (s.v. allon(e/aloon, adj.)
  • Donaldson (1975): N/A
  • Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

Without companions, kindred, or competitors; solitary, lonely, deserted; alone

Comments from the Editor

The above quotation is a part of Troilus’s lamentation after hearing the news of Criseyde’s exchange. The quote reveals a core aspect of Troilus’s character. Unlike Pandarus, who is “press and diligent” (3.485), and unlike Diomede, who is “in his nedes prest” (5.800), Troilus is often alone, lamenting and struggling in his chamber (1.358, 1.547) or on his bed (2.1305) or in the temple (4.947). He often appears to be dying (1.606, 4.955), almost without much effort, when he feels desperate.