Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Assignment #2

Everything Old is New Again!
Translating Early Modern English into Modern English
Below are some lines from some of William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, written in Early
Modern English. On the lines below each quote, translate each sentence into Modern English, as we might speak it today.


"To thine own self be true; and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can'st not then be false to any man." Hamlet, Act i, Sc.3

-Don't lie, be true to yourself.

"What is best, that best I wish in thee." Troilus & C, Act ii, Sc.2

-What's best is what I wish.

"Safe may'st thou wander, safe return again!" Cymbeline, Act iii, Sc.5

I hope you have a safe trip.

"Give me thy hand, 'tis late; farewell, good night." Rom & Jul, Act iii, Sc.3

-It is getting late, good night.

"Have more than though showest; speak less than thou knowest; lend less than thou owest." K Lear, Act i, Sc.4

-If you don't say what you don't know.

"Thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear, thy dial how thy precious minutes waste."
Sonnet 77

Use your time wisely.

"This above all: to thine own self be true." Hamlet, Act i, Sc.3

-Be true to yourself.

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