Assignment 2

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

Be truthful to yourself and others always night and day. You can't fool people.

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

I wish you the best that there is.

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

I hope you walk  safely so that you return safely.
"Give me thy hand, 'tis late; farewell, good night." Rom & Jul, Act iii, Sc.3

Its late so give farewell me with your hand good night.

"Have more than though showest; speak less than thou knowest; lend less than thou owest." K Lear, Act i, Sc.4
Have more then what you show.  Speak less then what you know. Lend less then what you own. 

"Thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear, thy dial how thy precious minutes waste."
Sonnet 77
the glass will show you how beautiful you are, the dial shows the precious minutes that get wasted.

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

Above everything to our own selves we have to be true.