This twelfth lesson in our Elizabethan English course examines to as the infinitive particle marker—that essential function word that transforms verbs into their infinitive form. While Lesson 6 addressed “to” as a preposition of direction and purpose, this lesson focuses on its grammatical role in constructing infinitives: to speak, to love, to die.
In Shakespeare’s English, the infinitive particle “to” operated much as it does today, yet with several important distinctions. The split infinitive (placing an adverb between “to” and the verb) appeared rarely in formal writing, though it existed in speech. More significantly, Elizabethan English permitted infinitive constructions that have since become obsolete, and certain verbs that now require infinitives then took bare infinitives instead.
The pronunciation of “to” in Elizabethan English varied by emphasis: stressed [tuː], unstressed [tə] or [tʊ]—similar to modern usage but within a phonological system still undergoing the Great Vowel Shift.
Course Index:
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FAQ: What does “to” mean in Elizabethan English? As an infinitive particle, “to” marks the verb that follows as being in its infinitive (unconjugated) form. It introduces purpose clauses, serves as the subject or object of sentences, and forms part of many verbal constructions. In Shakespeare’s works, “to” appears thousands of times in phrases immortalized in the English language: “To be or not to be,” “To sleep, perchance to dream,” “To thine own self be true.”
Key Takeaways: -
“To” as infinitive marker precedes the base form of verbs -
Elizabethan pronunciation: stressed [tuː], unstressed [tə] -
Period pronunciation preserved features now lost (e.g., “-tion” as [tjɔn]) -
Split infinitives were uncommon in formal registers -
Some verbs took bare infinitives where modern English requires “to”
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The Infinitive Particle: -
to (stressed): [tuː] -
to (unstressed): [tə] or [tʊ]
Key Period Features in This Lesson: -
Final -tion pronounced [tjɔn], not modern [ʃən] -
Final -ed often a full syllable [ɪd] or [əd] in verse -
wh- pronounced [hw], not [w] -
All r sounds pronounced (fully rhotic) -
Long vowels still shifting (Great Vowel Shift in progress) -
-ness pronounced [nɛs], not [nəs] -
-ous pronounced [uːs] or [ʊs]
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12.1a To speake the truthe requireth courage of the heart. 12.1b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER speake (speːk) speak the (ðə) the truthe (truːθ) truth requireth (rɪˈkwaɪrɪθ) requires courage (ˈkʊrɪdʒ) courage of (ɔv) of the (ðə) the heart (hɑrt) heart
12.2a The prince desireth to know what newes is come from France. 12.2b The (ðə) the prince (prɪns) prince desireth (dɪˈzaɪrɪθ) desires to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER know (noː) know what (hwɑt) what newes (njuːz) news is (ɪz) is come (kʊm) come from (frɔm) from France (frɑːns) France
12.3a ‘Tis better to have lov’d and lost than never to have lov’d at all. 12.3b ‘Tis (tɪz) it-is better (ˈbɛtər) better to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER have (hav) have lov’d (lʊvd) loved and (and) and lost (lɔst) lost than (ðan) than never (ˈnɛvər) never to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER have (hav) have lov’d (lʊvd) loved at (at) at all (ɑːl) all
12.4a To walke in darkenesse without candle is to invite misfortune. 12.4b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER walke (wɑːk) walk in (ɪn) in darkenesse (ˈdɑrknɛs) darkness without (wɪðˈaʊt) without candle (ˈkandəl) candle is (ɪz) is to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER invite (ɪnˈvaɪt) invite misfortune (mɪsˈfɔrtjuːn) misfortune
12.5a She hath learn’d to play upon the virginals most sweetly. 12.5b She (ʃeː) she hath (haθ) has learn’d (lɜrnd) learned to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER play (plaɪ) play upon (əˈpɔn) upon the (ðə) the virginals (ˈvɜrdʒɪnəlz) virginals most (moːst) most sweetly (ˈsweːtli) sweetly
12.6a The souldier was bound to serve his captaine unto death. 12.6b The (ðə) the souldier (ˈsoːldʒər) soldier was (wɔz) was bound (baʊnd) bound to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER serve (sɜrv) serve his (hɪz) his captaine (ˈkaptɪn) captain unto (ˈʊntuː) unto death (dɛθ) death
12.7a They did conspire to overthrow the rightfull king. 12.7b They (ðeɪ) they did (dɪd) did conspire (kɔnˈspaɪr) conspire to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER overthrow (oːvərˈθroː) overthrow the (ðə) the rightfull (ˈraɪtfʊl) rightful king (kɪŋ) king
12.8a What meanes it to live if honour be lost? 12.8b What (hwɑt) what meanes (meːnz) means it (ɪt) it to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER live (lɪv) live if (ɪf) if honour (ˈɔnər) honor be (beː) be lost (lɔst) lost
12.9a To erre is humane; to forgive, divine. 12.9b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER erre (ɛr) err is (ɪz) is humane (hjuːˈmaɪn) human to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER forgive (fɔrˈgɪv) forgive divine (dɪˈvaɪn) divine
12.10a The queene commandeth all her subjects to attend upon her at the court. 12.10b The (ðə) the queene (kweːn) queen commandeth (kɔˈmandɪθ) commands all (ɑːl) all her (hɜr) her subjects (ˈsʊbdʒɛkts) subjects to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER attend (əˈtɛnd) attend upon (əˈpɔn) upon her (hɜr) her at (at) at the (ðə) the court (koːrt) court
12.11a I have not the wit to answere such sophisticall questions. 12.11b I (aɪ) I have (hav) have not (nɔt) not the (ðə) the wit (wɪt) wit to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER answere (ˈɑːnsər) answer such (sʊtʃ) such sophisticall (sɔˈfɪstɪkəl) sophistical questions (ˈkwɛstjɔnz) questions
12.12a To sleepe, perchance to dreame—ay, there’s the rub. 12.12b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER sleepe (sleːp) sleep perchance (pərˈtʃɑːns) perchance to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER dreame (dreːm) dream ay (aɪ) ay there’s (ðɛrz) there-is the (ðə) the rub (rʊb) rub
12.13a The apprentice beganne to understand the mysterie of his craft. 12.13b The (ðə) the apprentice (əˈprɛntɪs) apprentice beganne (bɪˈgan) began to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER understand (ʊndərˈstand) understand the (ðə) the mysterie (ˈmɪstəri) mystery of (ɔv) of his (hɪz) his craft (kraft) craft
12.14a It behoveth a gentleman to keep his word in all occasions. 12.14b It (ɪt) it behoveth (bɪˈhoːvɪθ) behooves a (ə) a gentleman (ˈdʒɛntəlman) gentleman to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER keep (keːp) keep his (hɪz) his word (wɜrd) word in (ɪn) in all (ɑːl) all occasions (ɔˈkeɪzjɔnz) occasions
12.15a We are come hither to witnesse the coronation of our new soveraigne. 12.15b We (weː) we are (ɑr) are come (kʊm) come hither (ˈhɪðər) hither to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER witnesse (ˈwɪtnɛs) witness the (ðə) the coronation (kɔrəˈneɪtjɔn) coronation of (ɔv) of our (aʊr) our new (njuː) new soveraigne (ˈsɔvrɪn) sovereign
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12.1 To speake the truthe requireth courage of the heart. “To speak the truth requires courage of the heart.”
12.2 The prince desireth to know what newes is come from France. “The prince desires to know what news has come from France.”
12.3 ‘Tis better to have lov’d and lost than never to have lov’d at all. “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
12.4 To walke in darkenesse without candle is to invite misfortune. “To walk in darkness without a candle is to invite misfortune.”
12.5 She hath learn’d to play upon the virginals most sweetly. “She has learned to play upon the virginals most sweetly.”
12.6 The souldier was bound to serve his captaine unto death. “The soldier was bound to serve his captain unto death.”
12.7 They did conspire to overthrow the rightfull king. “They did conspire to overthrow the rightful king.”
12.8 What meanes it to live if honour be lost? “What does it mean to live if honor is lost?”
12.9 To erre is humane; to forgive, divine. “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
12.10 The queene commandeth all her subjects to attend upon her at the court. “The queen commands all her subjects to attend upon her at the court.”
12.11 I have not the wit to answere such sophisticall questions. “I have not the wit to answer such sophistical questions.”
12.12 To sleepe, perchance to dreame—ay, there’s the rub. “To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub.”
12.13 The apprentice beganne to understand the mysterie of his craft. “The apprentice began to understand the mystery of his craft.”
12.14 It behoveth a gentleman to keep his word in all occasions. “It behooves a gentleman to keep his word on all occasions.”
12.15 We are come hither to witnesse the coronation of our new soveraigne. “We have come here to witness the coronation of our new sovereign.”
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12.1 To speake the truthe requireth courage of the heart.
12.2 The prince desireth to know what newes is come from France.
12.3 ‘Tis better to have lov’d and lost than never to have lov’d at all.
12.4 To walke in darkenesse without candle is to invite misfortune.
12.5 She hath learn’d to play upon the virginals most sweetly.
12.6 The souldier was bound to serve his captaine unto death.
12.7 They did conspire to overthrow the rightfull king.
12.8 What meanes it to live if honour be lost?
12.9 To erre is humane; to forgive, divine.
12.10 The queene commandeth all her subjects to attend upon her at the court.
12.11 I have not the wit to answere such sophisticall questions.
12.12 To sleepe, perchance to dreame—ay, there’s the rub.
12.13 The apprentice beganne to understand the mysterie of his craft.
12.14 It behoveth a gentleman to keep his word in all occasions.
12.15 We are come hither to witnesse the coronation of our new soveraigne.
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These are the grammar rules for the infinitive particle “to” in Elizabethan English:
Basic Function: The particle “to” marks the infinitive form of a verb—that is, the verb in its unconjugated, “name” form. In Elizabethan English, as in modern English, “to” + verb creates a verbal noun or verbal phrase that can serve multiple grammatical functions.
Functions of the Infinitive with “To”:
As Subject: The infinitive phrase can serve as the subject of a sentence. -
To erre is humane — “To err” functions as the subject -
To speake the truthe requireth courage — “To speak the truth” is the subject
As Object: Following verbs of desire, intention, command, or perception. -
The prince desireth to know — “to know” is the object of “desireth” -
She hath learn’d to play — “to play” is the object of “hath learn’d”
As Complement: Completing the meaning of a predicate. -
To walke in darkenesse is to invite misfortune — the second infinitive completes “is”
Expressing Purpose: Indicating the reason for an action. -
We are come hither to witnesse the coronation — “to witness” explains why they came
After Adjectives: Following certain adjectives that take infinitive complements. -
bound to serve — “bound” requires an infinitive -
ready to fight, apt to forget, like to die
Elizabethan vs. Modern Usage:
Bare Infinitives: Certain verbs that now require “to” once took bare infinitives (without “to”): -
I did heare him speake (not “to speak”) — after perception verbs -
Let him goe (not “to go”) — after causative “let” -
Make her understand (not “to understand”) — after causative “make”
Verbs with Infinitive Complements: Elizabethan English used infinitive constructions with verbs that have since changed: -
He is like to die (modern: “likely to die”) -
Methinks to have heard (modern: “I think I heard”) -
I am to goe (expressing obligation or futurity)
Split Infinitives: While the construction existed, formal Elizabethan prose rarely split infinitives. The rule was not as strict as later prescriptivists would make it, but literary usage generally kept “to” and its verb together.
The Infinitive with “For...To” Construction: Elizabethan English could use “for” to introduce the logical subject of an infinitive: -
For him to speake thus is madnesse — “him” is the subject of “to speak” -
It is time for us to departe
Negative Infinitives: “Not” typically preceded “to” in the period: -
He resolv’d not to yeeld -
I charge thee not to speake
Common Mistakes for Modern Learners:
Using “to” with perception verbs where Elizabethans used bare infinitives: Say “I saw him fall,” not “I saw him to fall.”
Forgetting that “-eth” verbs still govern infinitives normally: He wisheth to goe follows the same pattern as modern “He wishes to go.”
Over-splitting infinitives: While not forbidden, split infinitives were uncommon in formal registers.
Mispronouncing in verse: Remember that “to” in unstressed positions reduces to [tə], but in emphatic or stressed positions maintains [tuː].
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The Infinitive in Elizabethan Philosophy and Literature:
The infinitive construction carried philosophical weight in Renaissance English. When Hamlet asks “To be or not to be,” he employs infinitives to contemplate existence itself—the verb reduced to its purest form, stripped of person, number, and time. This grammatical abstraction suited the period’s love of philosophical discourse.
Register and Social Usage:
Infinitives appeared across all registers, but their frequency and complexity varied. Courtly speech and learned discourse employed elaborate infinitive constructions: purpose clauses, complementation, nominalized infinitives. Common speech used simpler patterns. A gentleman might say “I am come to solicit your favour in the matter of my suit,” while a tradesman might simply say “I come to sell my wares.”
The Infinitive in Rhetoric:
Elizabethan rhetoricians prized parallel infinitive structures: -
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” (though this is Tennyson, it exemplifies the period’s style) -
To live, and die, and live againe — such triadic structures appeared frequently
Legal and Formal Documents:
Legal language heavily employed infinitives in formal constructions: -
“To have and to hold from this day forward” -
“Be it knowne to all men by these presents” -
Infinitives of purpose in charters, wills, and contracts
The Great Vowel Shift and Pronunciation:
During the Elizabethan period, English long vowels were shifting. The “o” in “to” had already reached approximately its modern position [uː] when stressed. However, words following infinitives often retained older pronunciations that have since changed. The word “coronation” in Example 15 would be pronounced [kɔrəˈneɪtjɔn] with the “-tion” suffix maintaining its [tjɔn] realization, not the modern [ʃən]. Similarly, “occasions” would be [ɔˈkeɪzjɔnz], “questions” [ˈkwɛstjɔnz], and “sophisticall” [sɔˈfɪstɪkəl].
Theatrical Delivery:
On the Elizabethan stage, actors would give infinitives varying weight depending on dramatic context. In soliloquies, the contemplative “to” received emphasis: “TO be, or NOT to be.” In rapid dialogue, infinitives passed quickly. The iambic pentameter often placed “to” in unstressed positions, but playwrights could achieve striking effects by promoting it to stress.
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From William Shakespeare, Hamlet (c. 1600), Act III, Scene 1
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a To be, or not to be, that is the question: F.1b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER be (beː) be or (ɔr) or not (nɔt) not to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER be (beː) be that (ðat) that is (ɪz) is the (ðə) the question (ˈkwɛstjɔn) question
F.2a Whether ‘tis nobler in the minde to suffer F.2b Whether (ˈhwɛðər) whether ‘tis (tɪz) it-is nobler (ˈnoːblər) nobler in (ɪn) in the (ðə) the minde (maɪnd) mind to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER suffer (ˈsʊfər) suffer
F.3a The slings and arrowes of outragious fortune, F.3b The (ðə) the slings (slɪŋz) slings and (and) and arrowes (ˈaroːz) arrows of (ɔv) of outragious (aʊtˈreɪdʒəs) outrageous fortune (ˈfɔrtjuːn) fortune
F.4a Or to take armes against a sea of troubles, F.4b Or (ɔr) or to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER take (taɪk) take armes (ɑrmz) arms against (əˈgɛnst) against a (ə) a sea (seː) sea of (ɔv) of troubles (ˈtrʊbəlz) troubles
F.5a And by opposing, end them. To die, to sleepe, F.5b And (and) and by (baɪ) by opposing (əˈpoːzɪŋ) opposing end (ɛnd) end them (ðɛm) them to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER die (daɪ) die to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER sleepe (sleːp) sleep
F.6a No more; and by a sleepe to say we end F.6b No (noː) no more (moːr) more and (and) and by (baɪ) by a (ə) a sleepe (sleːp) sleep to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER say (saɪ) say we (weː) we end (ɛnd) end
F.7a The heart-ake and the thousand naturall shocks F.7b The (ðə) the heart-ake (ˈhɑrt aɪk) heartache and (and) and the (ðə) the thousand (ˈθaʊzənd) thousand naturall (ˈnatjʊrəl) natural shocks (ʃɔks) shocks
F.8a That flesh is heire to: ‘tis a consummation F.8b That (ðat) that flesh (flɛʃ) flesh is (ɪz) is heire (ɛːr) heir to (tuː) to ‘tis (tɪz) it-is a (ə) a consummation (kɔnsəˈmeɪtjɔn) consummation
F.9a Devoutly to be wish’d. F.9b Devoutly (dɪˈvaʊtli) devoutly to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER be (beː) be wish’d (wɪʃt) wished
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler in the minde to suffer The slings and arrowes of outragious fortune, Or to take armes against a sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them. To die, to sleepe, No more; and by a sleepe to say we end The heart-ake and the thousand naturall shocks That flesh is heire to: ‘tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d.
“To exist, or not to exist, that is the question: Whether it is nobler in the mind to endure the assaults and injuries of cruel fortune, or to take up weapons against a multitude of troubles, and by resisting, end them. To die, to sleep, nothing more; and by sleeping to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural afflictions that mortal flesh is subject to: it is a fulfillment devoutly to be desired.”
F-C: Elizabethan Text Only
To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler in the minde to suffer The slings and arrowes of outragious fortune, Or to take armes against a sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them. To die, to sleepe, No more; and by a sleepe to say we end The heart-ake and the thousand naturall shocks That flesh is heire to: ‘tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This passage contains an extraordinary concentration of infinitive constructions, making it ideal for studying the grammatical role of “to” in Elizabethan English.
Infinitives of Existential State: “To be, or not to be” — The most famous infinitives in English, used nominally as the subject of the sentence.
Infinitives of Purpose/Alternative: “to suffer” and “to take armes” present two choices, each introduced by the infinitive marker.
Chained Infinitives: “To die, to sleepe” — Appositive infinitives, where one concept restates or elaborates another.
Infinitive with “to say”: “by a sleepe to say we end” — An infinitive expressing result or consequence.
Passive Infinitive: “to be wish’d” — The passive construction with infinitive, showing something desired.
Period Pronunciations: -
“question” [ˈkwɛstjɔn] — note the [tj] cluster, not modern [tʃ] -
“fortune” [ˈfɔrtjuːn] — preserving the [tj] -
“naturall” [ˈnatjʊrəl] — with [tj] -
“consummation” [kɔnsəˈmeɪtjɔn] — the “-tion” pronounced [tjɔn]
F-E: Commentary
Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy demonstrates the infinitive’s power to abstract existence itself into pure philosophical contemplation. By removing person, number, and tense from the verb “be,” Hamlet contemplates being as a state rather than as the action of any particular entity at any particular time.
The cascade of infinitives—to be, to suffer, to take, to die, to sleepe, to say, to end, to be wish’d—creates a meditation on choice and action. Each “to” marks a potential path, an unconjugated possibility. The infinitive becomes the grammar of contemplation, of roads not yet taken.
— William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1 (c. 1600)
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Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
12.16a Now must I resolve what course to take in this dangerous matter. 12.16b Now (naʊ) now must (mʊst) must I (aɪ) I resolve (rɪˈzɔlv) resolve what (hwɑt) what course (koːrs) course to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER take (taɪk) take in (ɪn) in this (ðɪs) this dangerous (ˈdeɪndʒərəs) dangerous matter (ˈmatər) matter
12.17a To speake were to betray my conspiracie to mine enemies. 12.17b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER speake (speːk) speak were (wɜr) were to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER betray (bɪˈtreɪ) betray my (maɪ) my conspiracie (kɔnˈspɪrəsi) conspiracy to (tuː) to mine (maɪn) mine enemies (ˈɛnəmiz) enemies
12.18a Yet to keep silent is to abandon those who have trusted in me. 12.18b Yet (jɛt) yet to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER keep (keːp) keep silent (ˈsaɪlənt) silent is (ɪz) is to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER abandon (əˈbandən) abandon those (ðoːz) those who (huː) who have (hav) have trusted (ˈtrʊstɪd) trusted in (ɪn) in me (meː) me
12.19a The king hath power to destroy all that I love. 12.19b The (ðə) the king (kɪŋ) king hath (haθ) has power (ˈpaʊər) power to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER destroy (dɪˈstrɔɪ) destroy all (ɑːl) all that (ðat) that I (aɪ) I love (lʊv) love
12.20a I have sworn to protect my family from such tyranny. 12.20b I (aɪ) I have (hav) have sworn (swɔːrn) sworn to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER protect (prəˈtɛkt) protect my (maɪ) my family (ˈfamɪli) family from (frɔm) from such (sʊtʃ) such tyranny (ˈtɪrəni) tyranny
12.21a To flee the realme were cowardice most base. 12.21b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER flee (fleː) flee the (ðə) the realme (rɛlm) realm were (wɜr) were cowardice (ˈkaʊərdɪs) cowardice most (moːst) most base (beɪs) base
12.22a Must I then choose to hazard all upon one desperate throw? 12.22b Must (mʊst) must I (aɪ) I then (ðɛn) then choose (tʃuːz) choose to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER hazard (ˈhazərd) hazard all (ɑːl) all upon (əˈpɔn) upon one (wʊn) one desperate (ˈdɛspərət) desperate throw (θroː) throw
12.23a Fortune favours those who dare to seize her by the lockes. 12.23b Fortune (ˈfɔrtjuːn) Fortune favours (ˈfeɪvərz) favors those (ðoːz) those who (huː) who dare (dɛːr) dare to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER seize (seːz) seize her (hɜr) her by (baɪ) by the (ðə) the lockes (lɔks) locks
12.24a To act with resolution is to command respect even from adversaries. 12.24b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER act (akt) act with (wɪð) with resolution (rɛzəˈluːtjɔn) resolution is (ɪz) is to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER command (kɔˈmand) command respect (rɪˈspɛkt) respect even (ˈeːvən) even from (frɔm) from adversaries (ˈadvərsɛriz) adversaries
12.25a I am determined to pursue this enterprise unto the end. 12.25b I (aɪ) I am (am) am determined (dɪˈtɜrmɪnd) determined to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER pursue (pərˈsjuː) pursue this (ðɪs) this enterprise (ˈɛntərpraɪz) enterprise unto (ˈʊntuː) unto the (ðə) the end (ɛnd) end
12.26a Let my enimies learne what it is to crosse a man of honour. 12.26b Let (lɛt) let my (maɪ) my enimies (ˈɛnəmiz) enemies learne (lɜrn) learn what (hwɑt) what it (ɪt) it is (ɪz) is to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER crosse (krɔs) cross a (ə) a man (man) man of (ɔv) of honour (ˈɔnər) honor
12.27a To live without libertie is no life at all. 12.27b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER live (lɪv) live without (wɪðˈaʊt) without libertie (ˈlɪbərti) liberty is (ɪz) is no (noː) no life (laɪf) life at (at) at all (ɑːl) all
12.28a This night I shall attempt to enter the castle by the posterne gate. 12.28b This (ðɪs) this night (naɪt) night I (aɪ) I shall (ʃal) shall attempt (əˈtɛmpt) attempt to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER enter (ˈɛntər) enter the (ðə) the castle (ˈkasəl) castle by (baɪ) by the (ðə) the posterne (ˈpɔstərn) postern gate (gaɪt) gate
12.29a May heaven grant me strength to accomplish what I have set out to doe. 12.29b May (meɪ) may heaven (ˈhɛvən) heaven grant (grant) grant me (meː) me strength (strɛŋθ) strength to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER accomplish (əˈkɔmplɪʃ) accomplish what (hwɑt) what I (aɪ) I have (hav) have set (sɛt) set out (aʊt) out to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER doe (duː) do
12.30a To succeed were glorious; to faile, an honourable death. 12.30b To (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER succeed (səkˈseːd) succeed were (wɜr) were glorious (ˈglɔːriəs) glorious to (tə) INFINITIVE-MARKER faile (faɪl) fail an (ən) an honourable (ˈɔnərəbəl) honorable death (dɛθ) death
Part B: Natural Sentences
12.16 Now must I resolve what course to take in this dangerous matter. “Now I must decide what course of action to take in this dangerous matter.”
12.17 To speake were to betray my conspiracie to mine enemies. “To speak would be to betray my conspiracy to my enemies.”
12.18 Yet to keep silent is to abandon those who have trusted in me. “Yet to remain silent is to abandon those who have placed their trust in me.”
12.19 The king hath power to destroy all that I love. “The king has the power to destroy all that I love.”
12.20 I have sworn to protect my family from such tyranny. “I have sworn to protect my family from such tyranny.”
12.21 To flee the realme were cowardice most base. “To flee the realm would be the most base cowardice.”
12.22 Must I then choose to hazard all upon one desperate throw? “Must I then choose to risk everything on one desperate gamble?”
12.23 Fortune favours those who dare to seize her by the lockes. “Fortune favors those who dare to seize her by the hair.”
12.24 To act with resolution is to command respect even from adversaries. “To act with determination is to command respect even from adversaries.”
12.25 I am determined to pursue this enterprise unto the end. “I am determined to pursue this endeavor to the end.”
12.26 Let my enimies learne what it is to crosse a man of honour. “Let my enemies learn what it is to cross a man of honor.”
12.27 To live without libertie is no life at all. “To live without liberty is no life at all.”
12.28 This night I shall attempt to enter the castle by the posterne gate. “This night I shall attempt to enter the castle by the back gate.”
12.29 May heaven grant me strength to accomplish what I have set out to doe. “May heaven grant me strength to accomplish what I have set out to do.”
12.30 To succeed were glorious; to faile, an honourable death. “To succeed would be glorious; to fail, an honorable death.”
Part C: Elizabethan Text Only
12.16 Now must I resolve what course to take in this dangerous matter.
12.17 To speake were to betray my conspiracie to mine enemies.
12.18 Yet to keep silent is to abandon those who have trusted in me.
12.19 The king hath power to destroy all that I love.
12.20 I have sworn to protect my family from such tyranny.
12.21 To flee the realme were cowardice most base.
12.22 Must I then choose to hazard all upon one desperate throw?
12.23 Fortune favours those who dare to seize her by the lockes.
12.24 To act with resolution is to command respect even from adversaries.
12.25 I am determined to pursue this enterprise unto the end.
12.26 Let my enimies learne what it is to crosse a man of honour.
12.27 To live without libertie is no life at all.
12.28 This night I shall attempt to enter the castle by the posterne gate.
12.29 May heaven grant me strength to accomplish what I have set out to doe.
12.30 To succeed were glorious; to faile, an honourable death.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This soliloquy demonstrates multiple grammatical environments for the infinitive particle “to”:
Infinitive as Complement of “resolve”: (12.16) “resolve what course to take” — the infinitive follows an indirect question.
Parallel Infinitive Constructions: (12.17, 12.18) “To speake were to betray... to keep silent is to abandon” — balanced infinitives creating antithesis.
Infinitive Expressing Capacity: (12.19) “hath power to destroy” — infinitive following nouns of ability.
Infinitive Expressing Vow: (12.20) “sworn to protect” — infinitive as object of verbs of promise.
Subjunctive with Infinitive Subject: (12.21) “To flee... were cowardice” — the infinitive phrase as subject governs subjunctive “were.”
Infinitive Following “choose”: (12.22) “choose to hazard” — volitional verb + infinitive.
Infinitive Following “dare”: (12.23) “dare to seize” — Note that “dare” could take either “to” or bare infinitive in Elizabethan English.
Period Pronunciation Notes: -
“resolution” [rɛzəˈluːtjɔn] — with [tj], not modern [ʃ] -
“conspiracie” [kɔnˈspɪrəsi] — maintaining older pronunciation -
“tyranny” [ˈtɪrəni] — the ‘y’ as [i] -
“libertie” [ˈlɪbərti] — preserving the final [i]
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The Infinitive Particle “To”: -
Stressed: [tuː] -
Unstressed (most common): [tə]
Key Period Features Demonstrated:
-tion Suffix: Always [tjɔn] in Elizabethan pronunciation -
question [ˈkwɛstjɔn] -
coronation [kɔrəˈneɪtjɔn] -
resolution [rɛzəˈluːtjɔn] -
consummation [kɔnsəˈmeɪtjɔn]
-sion Suffix: [zjɔn] or [sjɔn] -
occasion [ɔˈkeɪzjɔn]
Wh- Words: [hw], not [w] -
what [hwɑt] -
whether [ˈhwɛðər]
Final -e: Sometimes still pronounced, especially in verse -
darkenesse [ˈdɑrknɛs] -
truthe [truːθ]
-ed Endings: Often [ɪd] in verse for meter -
lov’d can be [lʊvd] or [ˈlʊvɪd] depending on metrical need
Rhotic R: All r’s pronounced -
heart [hɑrt] -
answere [ˈɑːnsər] -
fortune [ˈfɔrtjuːn]
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This Elizabethan English course follows the Latinum Institute methodology for autodidactic learners, using frequency-based vocabulary instruction drawn from a 1000-word core curriculum. Each lesson presents the target word through multiple reinforcing sections: interlinear construed text with period-accurate IPA pronunciation, natural sentences, target-language-only text for reading practice, comprehensive grammar explanations, cultural context, authentic literary citations, and extended genre passages.
The Latinum Institute has been producing language learning materials since 2006, specializing in construed text approaches that make complex languages accessible to self-directed learners. The interlinear glossing format allows students to see exactly how each word functions within its sentence, building intuitive understanding of grammar through abundant examples rather than abstract rules.
Elizabethan English presents the modern English speaker with a paradox: familiar enough to seem accessible, yet different enough in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary to require systematic study. This course bridges that gap, allowing students to read Shakespeare, Marlowe, and their contemporaries with genuine comprehension rather than vague approximation.
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
Latinum Institute Reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
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✓ Lesson 012 Elizabethan English complete
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