Can someone paraphrase this old English into contemporary English?
I have to paraphrase this piece of a poem to contemporary english, but it's always been my weak point understanding old english. Any help would be great.
And slowly, slowly, rase she up,
And slowly, slowly left him;
And sighing said she could not stay,
Since death of life had reft him.
She had not gane a mile but twa,
When she heard the dead-bell knellin',
And every jow that the dead-bell ga'ed
It cried, "Woe to Barbara Allan!
O mother, mother, make my bed,
O make it soft and narrow:
Since my love died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow.
Comments
Slowly she rose up
And slowly she left him.
Sighing, she said she could not stay
Since death had taken him.
She had not one two miles
When she heard the bell announcing the death
And every sound the dead-bell rang,
It cried, "Sadness for Barbara Allan."
Oh mother make my bed
Make it soft and narrow.
Since my true love died for me today,
I'll die for him tomorrow.
The poem is in Scottish or maybe Welsh dialect. Old English is so difficult that I took a three hour course one summer when I was getting my master's.
Hope this helps.
Regret to have to tell you that this is not in Olde English Dialect BUT Old Scots Dialect
Translation and meanings below
And slowly slowly she stood up
And slowly, slowly, she left him
And sighing said she could not stay
Since death of life had (broken) torn him
rase (rise,stand)
Death of Life (no life left no get up and go, severely depressed, morose, )
Reft (ripped apart, break away)
The burden of life appears to have broken this mans very soul and in doing so he is breaking the heart and soul of his lover. She can no longer help him and in order to save herself and give him a reason to try to live she has to leave. It is with great reluctance that she does this for she very much loves him and always will. She is hoping that this will galvanise him into living for the present and recognising that as long as he has her there is meaning to life
She had not gone a mile but two
When she heard the death bell Tollin'
And every stroke that death bell gave
It cried Misery to Babara Allen
Gane (Scots word for gone)
Twa (is the Scots word for two)
Death Bell Knellin (The particular slow sombre tone from the Church Bell signifying a death in the parish)
Ga'ad (gave, given, gaved poetic licence for rythm of poem)
Jow (stroke or Toll)
When she left her lover had died ?by his own hand. After leaving and walking the mile or two she heard the Bell tolling to signify a death in the parish. Immediately she knew it was her lover and now she feels great remorse for leaving him.
Oh Mother. Mother make my bed
Oh make it soft and narrow
Since my love died for me today
I'll die for him tomorrow
Bed soft and narrow (In this case narrow bed is referring to a single bed, no more will she lie with her lover in their double bed. Can also be a reference to a coffin. Double meaning for this and was probably meant as so)
The climax of the story is that this lady is going home to the bed soft and narrow. Where she will either take to bed until she is dead or she will join her lover in a suicide pact. It matters not, for one thing is clear, she feels with the demise of her lover she cannot continue to live. She means to die and will succeed.
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