first ord. num. (as adj.)

2022-09-01 first

TR2.1751 Bŭt nów tŏ yów, yĕ lóverĕs thát bĕn hérĕ,
TR2.1752 Wăs Tróĭlús nŏught ín ă kánkĕdórt,
TR2.1753 Thăt láy, ănd mýghtĕ whíspry̆nge óf hĕm hérĕ,
TR2.1754 Ănd thóughtĕ, “Ó Lŏrd, ríght nŏw rénneth my̆ sórt
TR2.1755 Fúlly̆ tŏ déye, ŏr hán ănón cŏmfórt!”
TR2.1756 Ănd wás thĕ fírstĕ týme hĕ shúlde hĭre préyĕ
TR2.1757 Ŏf lóve; Ŏ mýghty̆ Gód, whăt shál hĕ séyĕ?

Line Information

Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
English translations (Windeatt: 1998): But now, all you lovers who are here, was not Troilus in a predicament, who lay and could hear their whispering, and thought: ‘O Lord, my destiny is approaching right now!—to die once and for all, or to find comfort straightaway!’ And this was the first time he was to ask her for her love—O God Almighty, what is he to say?
Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): だが、ここにおられる貴方がた恋人たちよ、その時トロイルスは苦しい状況にはなく、身を横たえながら、彼の囁きを聞くことができたので、思った。「おお、主よ、今まさに運命は近づいた、完全に死ぬのか、それともすぐに慰めを得るのか！」今まさに初めて彼は彼女の愛を乞うのであった。ああ、力ある神よ、彼はどのように口を切るであろうか。
Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 但是，情人们啊，特罗勒斯这时的处境好生尴尬，他躺着听他俩私语，心想，“呀，上帝，我的命运就在此刻要决定，坠入深渊呢，还是直达乐境呢；”这是他首次向她求爱，啊，伟大的天神，他应该从哪里说起呢？

Word Information

Etymology: OE
Addresser: Narrator
Addressee: N/A
Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A
Noun(s) (NPs) modified: occurrence (time)
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): Not quoted
Donaldson (1975): N/A
Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

preceding all others in sequence

Comments from the Editor

For the first time, Troilus asks Criseyde directly for her love. The origin and meaning of the word “kankedort” in the second line of the stanza are unknown. Windeatt (1998) translated it as “predicament.”