TR1.211 Ŏ blýndĕ wórld, Ŏ blýnde ĕnténcĭóun! TR1.212 Hŏw óftĕn fállĕth ál the ĕfféct cŏntráirĕ TR1.213 Ŏf súrquĭdríe ănd fóul prĕsúmpcĭóun; TR1.214 Fŏr káught ĭs próud, ănd káught ĭs débŏnáirĕ. TR1.215 Thĭs Tróĭlús ĭs clómbĕn ón thĕ stáirĕ, TR1.216 Ănd lítĕl wénĕth thát hĕ móot dĕscéndĕn; TR1.217 Bŭt áldăy fáilĕth thíng thăt fóolĕs wéndĕn.
Line Information
- Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
- English translation (Windeatt: 1998): O blind world! O blindness of purpose! How often quite the opposite outcome happens from arrogance and vile presumptuousness, for caught are the proud and caught are the meek! Troilus has climbed on the stair and little supposes that he must come down — but fools’ expectations are disappointed all the time.
- Japanese translation (Sasamoto: 2012): おお、盲目の世界よ、おお、盲目の意図よ、横柄や悪意にみちた無礼には、なんとしばしば逆の結果が起こることだろう。高慢な人は捕えられる、だが優しい人も捕まるのだから。トロイルスは、やがて降りなければならないとはほとんど考えないで、階段を昇って行く。しかし愚者の考える事はいつもうまく行かないものだ。
- Chinese translation (Fang: 1956): 啊，盲目的世人，渺茫的意志！一味狂妄往往就敌不住眼前的事实！你誇矜也好，你卑顺也好，反正是跳不出这个圈套。这位特罗勒斯已踏上了高梯，却未料到自己还得退下梯来；岂不是痴人的梦想终归失败。
Word Information
- Etymology: OE
- Addresser: Narrator
- Addressee: N/A
- Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
- Counterpart in its source (Fil): N/A (but see 1.25, and in 1.25,1 ‘ciechità’, which means ‘blindness’, is used)
- Noun(s) (NPs) modified: the world (or specifically, people of the world)
- 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
lacking insight or mental perception
Comments from the Editor
Troilus is struck by the arrow from blind Cupid. However, as in the quotation above, people who despise the rule of nature are the real blind ones. Chaucer again emphasises that no one, including Troilus, is excluded by the laws of nature.