Question

Translate the poem into modern, familiar English. Do a line-by-line translation and delete the original lines as you progress.

Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid, Edward, Edward, Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid. why sae sad gang yee O?" I hae killed my hauke sae guid, And I had nae mair but hee O." "Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, Edward, Edward, Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, My deir son I tell thee O." "O I hae killed my reid roan steid, Mither, mither, O I hae killed my reid roan steid, That erst was sae fair and free O."

It is in old English and was written in 1611. It might help to know the first line has been translated by the school for me “why does your sword so drip with blood Edward”

Answer 1

In this poem, the speaker is asking Edward why his sword is dripping with blood and why he looks so sad. Edward responds that he killed his good hawk and now he has nothing left. The speaker then tells Edward that his hawk's blood was never so red and tries to console him. Edward then reveals that he killed his red roan steed, which used to be beautiful and free.

To translate this poem into modern, familiar English, we can do a line-by-line translation. Here is the translation:

"Why does your sword so drip with blood, Edward, Edward?

Why does your sword so drip with blood? Why are you so sad, my dear?"

"I have killed my good hawk, Mother, Mother.

And I had no more but it, oh dear."

"Your hawk's blood was never so red, Edward, Edward.

Your hawk's blood was never so red, my dear son, I tell you."

"Oh, I have killed my red roan steed, Mother, Mother.

I have killed my red roan steed that used to be so beautiful and free, oh dear."

This translation brings the poem into modern, familiar English, making it easier to understand for contemporary readers.

Answer 2

My translation of these stanzas of the poem "Edward" in modern, familiar English, is as follows:

Why is your sword dripping with blood like that, Edward? Why is your sword dripping with blood like that? And why are you going about looking so sad? Oh, I have killed my good hawk, Mother, Oh, I have killed my good hawk And I don’t have another one. Your hawk’s blood was surely not as red as that.

I hope this helps :)