Introducing Archaic English
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Introduction
For years people have read and learnt about Shakespeare, Byron...all these are writers and poets who have been read for years and years. Famous is their use of the words "thou", "thy" and these are also found often in the Bible.
Now the most terrible thing is for people to start abusing and start misusing these terms. I shudder when I see people going "Thee is good" or even "Thou face is terrible to look at". It's done with good intention but with bad effects.
Here in this short introduction to so-called Archaic English I will introduce you to some methods of writing Archaic English, the grammar involved, and some texts you can use for reference.
Writing Archaic English: Oh, So How's Thou?
Among the words that are so stereotyped and misused is the word "thou". This word is among the most common found in texts using Early Modern English and also one of the more misused ones. Below I will go through the usage of this little word.
Thou
"Thou", meaning "you", has cousins all over Indo-European languages. Consider German "Du" and compare with Early-Modern (EM) English "Thou". Close resemblance don't they? Closer than Modern (M) English "You", certainly. More importantly "thou" is only used under informal situations. Under formal situations use "you".
"Thou", like many pronouns in IE languages other than English, is inflected, though only to a certain extent. Below I present the forms of "thou":
- thou
- Subject thou
- Object thee
- Possessive thy (before consonants); thine (before vowels)
As a note, "thou" is the singular form of "you". To explain the above, "subject" refers to the use of "thou" as the subject, i.e. as in "Thou art beautiful" and "Thou sayest, that the man giveth people money.". The object form "thee" is used when the "you" being addressed is the receiver of a certain action, for example "What?! The cat hath robbed thee?!" or "I love thee like the crimson roses of the field." Finally, the possessive is used like the English "your" - e.g. "Thy face" and "Thine eyes". Note that "thine" is also used as the English "yours" - i.e. "Say to me, O traitor, is that thine?"
Ye
"Ye" is the plural form of "Thou", such as in "Hearken ye, O people of the village!" A warning, NEVER ever use "ye" in place of "the" - this is a complete misconception and misinterpretation of medieval texts in which a letter looking like "y" was used in place of รพ pronounced like the "th" in "think" or "this". Saying something like "Ye Olde Store" is plain misinformation.
The forms of "ye" are exactly as in M. English, i.e. the possessive is still "your", the accusative is still "you", etc. No change in that.
Verbs
In Archaic English, verbs more or less remain as they are, except some changes in the 2nd person and 3rd person forms. When you use the 2nd person singular the verb should end in "-(e)st". This is a rule. Therefore if you would like to translate "You say to me, that the king is the ruler of the palace." to Archaic English it would render "Thou sayest to me, that the king is the ruler of the palace.". Use "-st" if the verb stem should end in a vowel (thanks to Itlian_Mann for pointing out the typo!), for example "do -> dost" (as in "Dost thou love me, O Romeo? - and yes, it is NOT "Dost thou lovest me, O Romeo?", which is as grammatically incorrect as "Do you loves me, O Romeo?"). Otherwise attach "-st", e.g. make -> makest, and not makst, which is plainly strange. If you do find the pronunciation with "-est" weird, you can substitute "-est" with "'st". This often happens in poems when letters sometimes need to be cancelled off so as to ensure the proper rhyming and flow of the poem.
In the 3rd person the verb ends in "-(e)th". Rules are similar to those for "-(e)st". An example would be "He knoweth, that the princess loveth her father most dearly."
In the past tense, verbs remain as they are in M. English except 2nd person ones. "You said" renders as "Thou said'st". The "-st" goes after the past temporal "-(e)d" ending. Depending on your tastes you may or may not render it is "-est" or "-'st".
There are some irregular verbs that should be taken note of. These include:
- is: 2nd person pres. art || 2nd person past wert
- have: 2nd person pres. hast || 3rd person pres. hath
- do: 2nd person pres. dost || 3rd person pres. doth
Exercises
Yes, this is it! Now's your chance to practise writing some Archaic English! Get crackin'!
Exercise 1
INSTRUCTIONS: Change these sentences into their archaic form.
1. If you address to me at Malta, the letter will be forwarded wherever I may be. (From Byron's Letter to Henry Drury)
2. Now, if you have anything to say against this, pray do; (From Byron's Letter to Thomas Moore)
3. 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come you after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. (From the King James Version Bible, Gospel of Mark Chapter 1, Verse 17)
4. 2:12 That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you unto his kingdom and glory. (From the King James Version Bible, Epistle to the Thessalonians 2, Chapter 2, Verse 12)
Exercise 2
INSTRUCTIONS: This is not really an exercise - it is a reading practice for you to familiarise yourself with the syntax of Early Modern English. There are syntactical and vocabulary differences between EM. English and Mod. English and taking note of them is beneficial when writing in Archaic English.
Reading Practice One: Fare Thee Well by Lord Byron
Fare thee well! and if for ever,
Still for ever, fare thee well:
Even though unforgiving, never
'Gainst thee shall my heart rebel.
Would that breast were bared before thee
Where thy head so oft hath lain,
While that placid sleep came o'er thee
Which thou ne'er canst know again:
Would that breast, by thee glanced over,
Every inmost thought could show!
Then thou wouldst at last discover
'Twas not well to spurn it so.
Though the world for this commend thee -
Though it smile upon the blow,
Even its praise must offend thee,
Founded on another's woe:
Though my many faults defaced me,
Could no other arm be found,
Than the one which once embraced me,
To inflict a cureless wound?
Yet, oh yet, thyself deceive not;
Love may sink by slow decay,
But by sudden wrench, believe not
Hearts can thus be torn away:
Still thine own its life retaineth,
Still must mine, though bleeding, beat;
And the undying thought which paineth
Is - that we no more may meet.
These are words of deeper sorrow
Than the wail above the dead;
Both shall live, but every morrow
Wake us from a widowed bed.
And when thou wouldst solace gather,
When our child's first accents flow,
Wilt thou teach her to say "Father!"
Though his care she must forego?
When her little hands shall press thee,
When her lip to thine is pressed,
Think of him whose prayer shall bless thee,
Think of him thy love had blessed!
Should her lineaments resemble
Those thou never more may'st see,
Then thy heart will softly tremble
With a pulse yet true to me.
All my faults perchance thou knowest,
All my madness none can know;
All my hopes, where'er thou goest,
Wither, yet with thee they go.
Every feeling hath been shaken;
Pride, which not a world could bow,
Bows to thee - by thee forsaken,
Even my soul forsakes me now:
But 'tis done - all words are idle -
Words from me are vainer still;
But the thoughts we cannot bridle
Force their way without the will.
Fare thee well! thus disunited,
Torn from every nearer tie.
Seared in heart, and lone, and blighted,
More than this I scarce can die.
Reading Practice Two: The Bible, Gospel of John, Chapter 1
The Gospel According to Saint John
Chapter 1
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
1:18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
1:22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
1:24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
1:44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Reading Practice Three: When We Two Parted by Lord Byron
When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.
The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow--
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame;
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.
They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shrudder comes o'er me--
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee so well--
Long, long I shall rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.
In secret we met--
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.
Reading Practice Four: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (Thanks to geoff for fixing the originally messed format!)
Act II. Scene II.
The Same. CAPULET'S Orchard.
Enter ROMEO.
Rom. He jests at scars, that never felt a wound. [JULIET appears above at a window.
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? 4
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she: 8
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady; O! it is my love: 12
O! that she knew she were.
She speaks, yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: 16
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head? 20
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night. 24
See! how she leans her cheek upon her hand:
O! that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek.
Jul. Ay me! 28
Rom. She speaks:
O! speak again, bright angel; for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven 32
Unto the white-upturned wond'ring eyes
Of mortals, that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds,
And sails upon the bosom of the air. 36
Jul. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father, and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet. 40
Rom. [Aside. ] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Jul. 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself though, not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, 44
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O! be some other name:
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet; 48
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name;
And for that name, which is no part of thee, 52
Take all myself.
Rom. I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptiz'd;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo. 56
Jul. What man art thou, that, thus be-screen'd in night,
So stumblest on my counsel?
Rom. By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am: 60
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee:
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
Jul. My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words 64
Of that tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
Rom. Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
Jul. How cam'st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? 68
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
Rom. With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls; 72
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.
Jul. If they do see thee they will murder thee. 76
Rom. Alack! there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
Jul. I would not for the world they saw thee here. 80
Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes;
And but thou love me, let them find me here;
My life were better ended by their hate,
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love. 84
Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
Rom. By Love, that first did prompt me to inquire;
He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far 88
As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea,
I would adventure for such merchandise.
Jul. Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek 92
For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke: but farewell compliment!
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say `Ay;' 96
And I will take thy word; yet, if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries,
They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo!
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: 100
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,
I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, 104
And therefore thou mayst think my haviour light:
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
I should have been more strange, I must confess, 108
But that thou over-heard'st, ere I was 'ware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered. 112
Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,--
Jul. O! swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb, 116
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
Rom. What shall I swear by?
Jul. Do not swear at all;
Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, 120
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.
Rom. If my heart's dear love--
Jul. Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, 124
I have no joy of this contract tonight:
It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say it lightens. Sweet, good-night! 128
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good-night, good-night! as sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast! 132
Rom. O! wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
Jul. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
Rom. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it; 136
And yet I would it were to give again.
Rom. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have: 140
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite. [Nurse calls within.
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu! 144
Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again. [Exit above.
Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard,
Being in night, all this is but a dream, 148
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
Re-enter JULIET, above.
Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and goodnight indeed.
If that thy bent of love be honourable, 152
Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee,
Where, and what time, thou wilt perform the rite;
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay, 156
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
Nurse. [Within. ] Madam!
Jul. I come, anon.--But if thou mean'st not well,
I do beseech thee,-- 160
Nurse. [Within. ] Madam!
Jul. By and by; I come:--
To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:
To-morrow will I send. 164
Rom. So thrive my soul,--
Jul. A thousand times good-night! [Exit above.
Rom. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books; 168
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks. [Retiring.
Re-enter JULIET, above.
Jul. Hist! Romeo, hist! O! for a falconer's voice,
To lure this tassel-gentle back again. 172
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud,
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,
With repetition of my Romeo's name. 176
Rom. It is my soul that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!
Jul. Romeo! 180
Rom. My dear!
Jul. At what o'clock to-morrow
Shall I send to thee?
Rom. At the hour of nine. 184
Jul. I will not fail; 'tis twenty years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
Rom. Let me stand here till thou remember it.
Jul. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, 188
Remembering how I love thy company.
Rom. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.
Jul. 'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone; 192
And yet no further than a wanton's bird,
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
And with a silk thread plucks it back again, 196
So loving-jealous of his liberty.
Rom. I would I were thy bird.
Jul. Sweet, so would I:
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. 200
Good-night, good-night! parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good-night till it be morrow. [Exit.
Rom. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! 204
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,
His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.
[Exit.]
Well, that's it for the not-so-brief introduction! To close off, I would like to recommend a few sources on reading Archaic English:
The Works of Shakespeare
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/shakespeare/
The Works of Byron
http://www.mykeep.com/lordbyron/
The King James Version of the Bible
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/kjv/index.htm
That's all, and thanks for reading this! This is Hao Ran, and, farewell, I say unto thee!
-bows-
