TR5.1289 "Hǒw mýghtě Í thǎn dón," quǒd Tróǐlús,
TR5.1290 "Tǒ knówe ǒf thís, yěe, wére ǐt névere sǒ lítě?"
TR5.1291 "Nǒw séystǒw wísly̌," quód thǐs Pándǎrús;
TR5.1292 "My̌ réd ǐs thís: sy̌n thów kǎnst wél ěndítě,
TR5.1293 Thǎt hástǐlý ǎ léttrě thów hǐre wrítě,
TR5.1294 Thǒrǔgh whích thǒw shált wěl brýngy̌n ít ǎbóutě
TR5.1295 Tǒ knów ǎ sóth ǒf thát thǒw árt ǐn dóutě.

Line Information

• Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
• English translations (Windeatt: 1998):
• ‘What could I do then,’ said Troilus, ‘to learn the truth about this—yes, even if it were ever so trifling?’
• ‘Now you’re talking sense,’ said Pandarus. ‘This is my advice: that, since you know how to put things well in writing, you quickly write her a letter, through which you’ll certainly manage to discover the truth of what you’re now uncertain about.
• Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012): 「夢の正しい解釈を知るためには」とトロイルスは言った。「じゃどうすればいいのかね、たとえくだらない事柄であっても。」「今度は道理をおっしゃる」とパンダルスは言った。「私はこう忠告申し上げましょう。若君は筆がお立ちだから、急いで彼女に手紙を認(したた)めなさるのです。手紙によって、疑問を抱いておられる事の真相を十分に知り遂げられましょう。
• Chinese translations (Fang: 1956):
• “那么梦既是这样无从把握，我究应如何才能得其真意呢？”特罗勒斯道。
• “这句话才说得聪明，”彭大瑞道，“我劝你这样，你是笔下很好的，赶快写封信给她，那样你原有的疑虑可以消除，而真相也可明白。

Word Information

• Etymology: OE
• Addresser: Troilus
• Addressee: Pandarus
• Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
• Counterpart in its source (Fil): 7.48
• Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others
• Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

• OED: Not quoted
• MED: Not quoted

• Commented in other previous works:
• Windeatt (2003: 322): To knowe of this, yee, were it nevere so lite: To know the correct interpretation of this, indeed, even if it were ever so trifling
• Fisher (1989: 523): were it never so lite: even if it were so insignificant
• Benson (1987: 577): To knowe of this, yee, were it nevere so lite: I.e., to know the correct interpretation, even if it were a trifling matter
• Davis et al. (1979): Not quoted
• Donaldson (1975: 978): lite: little
• Baugh (1963): N/A

Possible Definitions

little, trivial

Comments from the Editor

This stanza closely follows Fil. 7.48, but there is a difference in that Troiolo expresses his anger in Filostrato, whereas Chaucer’s Troilus does not mention it in the corresponding lines.