Early Modern English Blog

Sonnet 73 (Original Early Modern English)
That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.

In me thou seest the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.

In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire
Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by.

This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.


Le Sonnet 73 (Français)
Ce temps de l'an en moi tu peux regarder
Quand feuillages jaunes, ou aucun, ou peu,
Accroche à ceux branches maîtresses qui tremblent
Contre la chorale froide et gâchée, où les oiseaux doux ont chanté.

En moi tu regardes le crépuscule de ce jour
Comme après la couche du soleil dans l'Ouest,
Qui le noir a pris, le deuxième visage de Mort,
Fermes toutes les choses se reposent.

En moi tu regardes la lumière de ce feu
Qui reste sur les cendres de sa jeunesse,
Comme le lit du mort ou il faut d'expirer,
Englouti avec qu'il se nourrit.

Ce, tu regardes, qui renforce ton amour,
D'aimer ce qu'il faut te partir peu après.


Sonnet 73 (Present Day English)
That time of year, in me you can see,
When yellow leaves, or none, or few,
Hang on the branches of trees,
That trembles against cold choirs where sweet birds tune

In me you see the twilight of the day,
As the sun sets in the West
That the blackness takes the second face
Of Death closing everything in rest.

In me you see the light of the fire
That rests on the cinders of youth,
As the deathbed on where it must expire,
Consumed with what gave it food

This, you see, which strengthens your love,
To love that which will leave like a dove.

Alexandra Thomas