The pronoun she serves as the nominative form of the third person feminine singular in Early Modern English, functioning identically to its modern descendant. In the Elizabethan period (1558–1603), this pronoun carried the same grammatical weight it bears today, though speakers employed it within a more elaborate system of address that distinguished formal from familiar registers through the thou/you distinction.
Unlike the second person pronouns, which underwent significant social transformation during Shakespeare’s lifetime, she remained stable throughout the Early Modern period. The pronoun derives from Old English hēo, which underwent phonological simplification during the Middle English period, losing its initial aspiration and acquiring its modern form by approximately the fourteenth century.
In Elizabethan usage, she appears in constructions that modern speakers would recognize immediately, though the accompanying verb forms often carry the archaic -eth or -th suffixes characteristic of formal Early Modern prose. Thus where we would write “she speaks,” an Elizabethan author might pen “she speaketh” for elevated register.
This lesson explores she across diverse syntactic positions: as simple subject, as emphatic subject, in relative constructions, and in the various subordinate clause types that characterize Elizabethan periodic sentences.
Course Index:
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FAQ: What does “she” mean in Elizabethan English? The pronoun “she” in Elizabethan English functions as the third person feminine singular nominative pronoun, identical in meaning to modern usage but appearing with period-specific verb forms such as “she hath” (she has), “she doth” (she does), and “she speaketh” (she speaks).
Key Takeaways: -
She functions identically to the modern pronoun as nominative case -
Accompanying verbs often take -eth or -th endings in formal register -
The objective form remains her, the possessive her/hers -
Period pronunciation featured longer vowel values and fully pronounced post-vocalic /r/ -
Unlike thou/you, the pronoun she carried no social register distinction
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Early Modern English pronunciation differed markedly from modern Received Pronunciation or General American. The Great Vowel Shift was still completing its course during Shakespeare’s lifetime, and several key features distinguish period speech.
Key Pronunciation Features:
The suffix -tion was pronounced /sjʊn/ or transitioning to /ʃʊn/, not modern /ʃən/. Thus “nation” sounded closer to /ˈneɪsjʊn/.
Post-vocalic r was fully pronounced, as in modern Irish or Scottish English. “Her” would sound /hɛr/, not /hɜː/.
Long vowels retained values closer to their continental cognates. The vowel in “she” was likely /ʃeː/ or /ʃiː/, pronounced somewhat longer than modern usage.
The vowel in words like “love” and “blood” was pronounced /ʊ/, rhyming with modern “put.”
Initial wh- clusters were pronounced /hw/, so “where” sounded /hwɛːr/.
Silent letters were often still pronounced: “knight” as /knɪxt/, “gnaw” retaining initial /g/ for some speakers.
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34.1a She speaketh with a tongue most eloquent. 34.1b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM speaketh /ˈspeːkəθ/ speak-3SG.PRES with /wɪθ/ with a /ɐ/ INDEF.ART tongue /tʊŋ/ tongue most /moːst/ most eloquent /ˈɛlokwənt/ eloquent
34.2a She hath a countenance fair beyond compare. 34.2b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM hath /haθ/ have-3SG.PRES a /ɐ/ INDEF.ART countenance /ˈkaʊntənəns/ countenance fair /fɛːr/ fair beyond /bɪˈjɔnd/ beyond compare /kɔmˈpɛːr/ compare
34.3a Methinks she knoweth more than she doth say. 34.3b Methinks /mɪˈθɪŋks/ I-think she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM knoweth /ˈnoːəθ/ know-3SG.PRES more /moːr/ more than /ðan/ than she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM doth /dʊθ/ do-3SG.PRES say /seɪ/ say
34.4a She walketh in the garden at eventide. 34.4b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM walketh /ˈwɔːkəθ/ walk-3SG.PRES in /ɪn/ in the /ðə/ DEF.ART garden /ˈgaːrdən/ garden at /at/ at eventide /ˈiːvəntaɪd/ eventide
34.5a The lady, she that wore the silken gown, hath departed. 34.5b The /ðə/ DEF.ART lady /ˈleɪdiː/ lady she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM that /ðat/ REL.PRON wore /woːr/ wear-PAST the /ðə/ DEF.ART silken /ˈsɪlkən/ silken gown /gaʊn/ gown hath /haθ/ have-3SG.PRES departed /dɪˈpaːrtəd/ depart-PAST.PTCP
34.6a She that loveth wisely loveth well. 34.6b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM that /ðat/ REL.PRON loveth /ˈlʊvəθ/ love-3SG.PRES wisely /ˈwaɪzliː/ wisely loveth /ˈlʊvəθ/ love-3SG.PRES well /wɛl/ well
34.7a Would she consent to such a bold petition? 34.7b Would /wʊd/ would she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM consent /kɔnˈsɛnt/ consent to /tʊ/ to such /sʊtʃ/ such a /ɐ/ INDEF.ART bold /boːld/ bold petition /pɪˈtɪsjʊn/ petition
34.8a She is become a woman of great reputation. 34.8b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES become /bɪˈkʊm/ become-PAST.PTCP a /ɐ/ INDEF.ART woman /ˈwʊmən/ woman of /ɔv/ of great /greɪt/ great reputation /rɛpjʊˈteɪsjʊn/ reputation
34.9a The queen, she must determine this weighty matter. 34.9b The /ðə/ DEF.ART queen /kwiːn/ queen she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM must /mʊst/ must determine /dɪˈtɛrmɪn/ determine this /ðɪs/ DEM weighty /ˈweɪtiː/ weighty matter /ˈmatər/ matter
34.10a She departeth ere the cock doth crow. 34.10b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM departeth /dɪˈpaːrtəθ/ depart-3SG.PRES ere /ɛːr/ before the /ðə/ DEF.ART cock /kɔk/ cock doth /dʊθ/ do-3SG.PRES crow /kroː/ crow
34.11a Neither she nor her attendant spake a word. 34.11b Neither /ˈniːðər/ neither she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM nor /nɔːr/ nor her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.POSS attendant /əˈtɛndənt/ attendant spake /speɪk/ speak-PAST a /ɐ/ INDEF.ART word /wʊrd/ word
34.12a She whom the king hath favoured shall not want. 34.12b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM whom /huːm/ REL.PRON.OBJ the /ðə/ DEF.ART king /kɪŋ/ king hath /haθ/ have-3SG.PRES favoured /ˈfeɪvərd/ favour-PAST.PTCP shall /ʃal/ shall not /nɔt/ NEG want /wɔnt/ want
34.13a If she be wise, she shall hold her peace. 34.13b If /ɪf/ if she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM be /beː/ be-SUBJ wise /waɪz/ wise she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM shall /ʃal/ shall hold /hoːld/ hold her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.POSS peace /peːs/ peace
34.14a She singeth as the nightingale in May. 34.14b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM singeth /ˈsɪŋəθ/ sing-3SG.PRES as /az/ as the /ðə/ DEF.ART nightingale /ˈnaɪtɪŋgeɪl/ nightingale in /ɪn/ in May /meɪ/ May
34.15a What she demandeth, that must I perform. 34.15b What /hwat/ what she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM demandeth /dɪˈmaːndəθ/ demand-3SG.PRES that /ðat/ DEM must /mʊst/ must I /aɪ/ 1SG.NOM perform /pərˈfɔrm/ perform
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34.1 She speaketh with a tongue most eloquent. “She speaks with a most eloquent tongue.”
34.2 She hath a countenance fair beyond compare. “She has a face of incomparable beauty.”
34.3 Methinks she knoweth more than she doth say. “I think she knows more than she lets on.”
34.4 She walketh in the garden at eventide. “She walks in the garden at evening.”
34.5 The lady, she that wore the silken gown, hath departed. “The lady who wore the silk dress has left.”
34.6 She that loveth wisely loveth well. “She who loves wisely loves well.”
34.7 Would she consent to such a bold petition? “Would she agree to such a daring request?”
34.8 She is become a woman of great reputation. “She has become a woman of high standing.”
34.9 The queen, she must determine this weighty matter. “The queen must decide this serious issue.”
34.10 She departeth ere the cock doth crow. “She leaves before the rooster crows.”
34.11 Neither she nor her attendant spake a word. “Neither she nor her servant spoke at all.”
34.12 She whom the king hath favoured shall not want. “She whom the king has blessed shall lack nothing.”
34.13 If she be wise, she shall hold her peace. “If she is prudent, she will keep silent.”
34.14 She singeth as the nightingale in May. “She sings like the nightingale in spring.”
34.15 What she demandeth, that must I perform. “Whatever she demands, I must carry out.”
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34.1 She speaketh with a tongue most eloquent.
34.2 She hath a countenance fair beyond compare.
34.3 Methinks she knoweth more than she doth say.
34.4 She walketh in the garden at eventide.
34.5 The lady, she that wore the silken gown, hath departed.
34.6 She that loveth wisely loveth well.
34.7 Would she consent to such a bold petition?
34.8 She is become a woman of great reputation.
34.9 The queen, she must determine this weighty matter.
34.10 She departeth ere the cock doth crow.
34.11 Neither she nor her attendant spake a word.
34.12 She whom the king hath favoured shall not want.
34.13 If she be wise, she shall hold her peace.
34.14 She singeth as the nightingale in May.
34.15 What she demandeth, that must I perform.
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These are the grammar rules for the pronoun “she” in Elizabethan English:
The Feminine Pronoun Paradigm
The third person feminine singular pronoun in Early Modern English follows this pattern: Nominative she (subject position), Objective her (object position), Possessive Adjective her (before nouns), Possessive Pronoun hers (standing alone). This pattern matches modern usage exactly.
Verb Agreement with “She”
In formal Elizabethan prose and verse, verbs accompanying she frequently take the -eth or -th suffix in the present tense. This ending represents the third person singular present indicative: she speaketh, she hath, she doth, she knoweth, she loveth. The forms without this ending (she speaks, she has, she does) also existed and were becoming increasingly common, particularly in colloquial speech. By Shakespeare’s late career, the two forms appeared interchangeably, with -eth carrying a slightly more formal or archaic flavour.
The Auxiliary “Doth”
The auxiliary verb doth /dʊθ/ functions as the third person singular of “do” in emphatic or interrogative constructions: “She doth protest too much” (emphatic), “Doth she understand?” (interrogative). This parallels modern “does” but carries the period-specific vowel /ʊ/.
The Auxiliary “Hath”
Similarly, hath /haθ/ serves as the third person singular of “have” in perfect constructions: “She hath spoken” (she has spoken), “She hath been unwell” (she has been unwell). This form was standard in formal writing throughout the Elizabethan period.
Appositive and Emphatic “She”
Elizabethan English frequently employed she in apposition to a noun for emphasis or clarification: “The queen, she must decide” rather than simply “The queen must decide.” This construction adds rhetorical weight and occurs commonly in dramatic verse.
Relative Constructions with “She”
The phrase she that or she who introduces relative clauses where the antecedent is a generic or unspecified woman: “She that loveth wisely” means “any woman who loves wisely” or “the woman who loves wisely.” This construction remains grammatical in modern English but sounds archaic.
Subjunctive with “She”
In conditional and hypothetical clauses, Elizabethan English employed the subjunctive mood: “If she be wise” (not “if she is wise”). The subjunctive be was standard after “if,” “though,” “lest,” and similar conjunctions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Using her as subject: Incorrect “Her speaketh” — Correct “She speaketh”
Forgetting verb agreement in formal register: While “she speaks” is acceptable, formal Elizabethan style prefers “she speaketh”
Confusing hath with have: “She have” never occurs — always “she hath” or “she has”
Mixing registers: If using -eth endings, maintain them consistently within a passage
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The Feminine Pronoun in Elizabethan Society
The pronoun she operated within a society where gender roles were rigidly defined yet simultaneously complicated by the presence of a female monarch. Elizabeth I’s reign (1558–1603) created a unique linguistic situation: the most powerful person in England was referred to with feminine pronouns, yet women generally occupied subordinate social positions.
Theatrical Conventions
On the Elizabethan stage, all female roles were played by boy actors, creating a fascinating linguistic situation where she referred to characters embodied by male performers. This convention influenced how playwrights wrote female characters and contributed to the period’s fascination with gender disguise and mistaken identity plots.
The Generic “She”
While modern English defaults to “he” for generic reference (or increasingly to “they”), Elizabethan English occasionally employed she in proverbs and maxims relating to traditionally feminine concerns: “She that gossipeth of others shall find others gossip of her.” Ships, countries, and abstract concepts like Fortune, Nature, and Death were conventionally feminine and referred to as she.
Social Register and the Pronoun
Unlike the thou/you distinction, which encoded social relationships, she carried no intrinsic social value. A queen and a beggar-woman would both be referenced as she. The relative status of the female referent appeared instead in accompanying vocabulary and verb choices.
Regional Variation
While the pronoun she was standard throughout England, some northern and Scottish dialects retained the older form hoo or ho into the Early Modern period. Standard literary English, based on London speech, used exclusively she.
Idiomatic Expressions:
“She that is born beautiful is half married” — Proverb on beauty’s value in the marriage market
“Tell that to she that will believe it” — Expression of skepticism (note: dialectal use of she as object)
“She that will thrive must rise at five” — Proverb on industry and early rising
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From William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (c. 1601–1602), Act II, Scene iv
Duke Orsino questions Viola (disguised as Cesario) about the woman his servant supposedly loves.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
She never told her love, She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM never /ˈnɛvər/ never told /toːld/ tell-PAST her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.POSS love /lʊv/ love
But let concealment, like a worm i’ th’ bud, But /bʊt/ but let /lɛt/ let concealment /kɔnˈseːlmənt/ concealment like /laɪk/ like a /ɐ/ INDEF.ART worm /wʊrm/ worm i’ /ɪ/ in th’ /ð/ DEF.ART bud /bʊd/ bud
Feed on her damask cheek. She pined in thought, Feed /feːd/ feed on /ɔn/ on her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.POSS damask /ˈdaməsk/ damask cheek /tʃeːk/ cheek She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM pined /paɪnd/ pine-PAST in /ɪn/ in thought /θɔːt/ thought
And with a green and yellow melancholy And /and/ and with /wɪθ/ with a /ɐ/ INDEF.ART green /greːn/ green and /and/ and yellow /ˈjɛloː/ yellow melancholy /ˈmɛlənkɔliː/ melancholy
She sat like Patience on a monument, She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM sat /sat/ sit-PAST like /laɪk/ like Patience /ˈpeɪsjəns/ Patience on /ɔn/ on a /ɐ/ INDEF.ART monument /ˈmɔnjʊmənt/ monument
Smiling at grief. Smiling /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/ smile-PRES.PTCP at /at/ at grief /griːf/ grief
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
She never told her love, But let concealment, like a worm i’ th’ bud, Feed on her damask cheek. She pined in thought, And with a green and yellow melancholy She sat like Patience on a monument, Smiling at grief.
“She never declared her love, but let suppressed feeling, like a worm inside a rosebud, consume her rose-coloured cheek. She wasted away in silent longing, and with a sickly melancholy she sat like the figure of Patience carved on a tomb, smiling at sorrow.”
F-C: Original Text Only
She never told her love, But let concealment, like a worm i’ th’ bud, Feed on her damask cheek. She pined in thought, And with a green and yellow melancholy She sat like Patience on a monument, Smiling at grief.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This passage showcases the feminine pronoun she in its most poetically charged usage. Viola, disguised as a male servant, describes her own unrequited love in the third person, using she to maintain her disguise while revealing her true feelings.
Key vocabulary: damask refers to the pink colour of damask roses, hence “rose-coloured” complexion; green and yellow melancholy describes the sickly pallor of lovesickness; Patience on a monument alludes to allegorical statues common on Elizabethan tombs.
Grammatical notes: The phrase “She never told her love” uses the simple past told rather than -eth form, showing Shakespeare’s fluid movement between archaic and modern verb forms. The construction “let concealment...feed” employs the subjunctive. “She pined” and “She sat” continue the simple past narration.
The repeated use of she at the beginning of clauses creates anaphora, a rhetorical device emphasizing the subject’s constancy and passivity in love.
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A scene between Lady Margaret and her waiting-woman, Bess, concerning a suitor
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
34.16a She cometh not, and yet the hour groweth late. 34.16b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM cometh /ˈkʊməθ/ come-3SG.PRES not /nɔt/ NEG and /and/ and yet /jɛt/ yet the /ðə/ DEF.ART hour /aʊr/ hour groweth /ˈgroːəθ/ grow-3SG.PRES late /leɪt/ late
34.17a Perchance she hath been detained by some business. 34.17b Perchance /pərˈtʃaːns/ perhaps she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM hath /haθ/ have-3SG.PRES been /biːn/ be-PAST.PTCP detained /dɪˈteɪnd/ detain-PAST.PTCP by /baɪ/ by some /sʊm/ some business /ˈbɪznəs/ business
34.18a Nay, she promised faithfully she would attend. 34.18b Nay /neɪ/ no she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM promised /ˈprɔmɪst/ promise-PAST faithfully /ˈfeɪθfʊliː/ faithfully she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM would /wʊd/ would attend /əˈtɛnd/ attend
34.19a She that breaketh her word is not to be trusted. 34.19b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM that /ðat/ REL.PRON breaketh /ˈbreɪkəθ/ break-3SG.PRES her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.POSS word /wʊrd/ word is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES not /nɔt/ NEG to /tʊ/ to be /beː/ be trusted /ˈtrʊstəd/ trust-PAST.PTCP
34.20a Speak not so harshly; she may have cause. 34.20b Speak /speːk/ speak not /nɔt/ NEG so /soː/ so harshly /ˈhaːrʃliː/ harshly she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM may /meɪ/ may have /hav/ have cause /kɔːz/ cause
34.21a What cause could she have that excuseth such neglect? 34.21b What /hwat/ what cause /kɔːz/ cause could /kʊd/ could she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM have /hav/ have that /ðat/ REL.PRON excuseth /ɪksˈkjuːzəθ/ excuse-3SG.PRES such /sʊtʃ/ such neglect /nɪˈglɛkt/ neglect
34.22a Madam, she is here; she cometh through the gate. 34.22b Madam /ˈmadəm/ madam she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES here /hiːr/ here she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM cometh /ˈkʊməθ/ come-3SG.PRES through /θrʊː/ through the /ðə/ DEF.ART gate /geɪt/ gate
34.23a Let she that hath tarried explain her delay. 34.23b Let /lɛt/ let she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM that /ðat/ REL.PRON hath /haθ/ have-3SG.PRES tarried /ˈtarɪd/ tarry-PAST.PTCP explain /ɪksˈpleɪn/ explain her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.POSS delay /dɪˈleɪ/ delay
34.24a Good morrow, lady; she of whom we spoke hath sent her greetings. 34.24b Good /gʊd/ good morrow /ˈmɔroː/ morning lady /ˈleɪdiː/ lady she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM of /ɔv/ of whom /huːm/ REL.PRON we /weː/ 1PL.NOM spoke /spoːk/ speak-PAST hath /haθ/ have-3SG.PRES sent /sɛnt/ send-PAST.PTCP her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.POSS greetings /ˈgreːtɪŋz/ greetings
34.25a She sendeth greetings but not her person? 34.25b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM sendeth /ˈsɛndəθ/ send-3SG.PRES greetings /ˈgreːtɪŋz/ greetings but /bʊt/ but not /nɔt/ NEG her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.POSS person /ˈpɛrsʊn/ person
34.26a She is fallen ill and could not travel. 34.26b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES fallen /ˈfɔːlən/ fall-PAST.PTCP ill /ɪl/ ill and /and/ and could /kʊd/ could not /nɔt/ NEG travel /ˈtravəl/ travel
34.27a Then she is excused; I spoke too rashly of her. 34.27b Then /ðɛn/ then she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES excused /ɪksˈkjuːzd/ excuse-PAST.PTCP I /aɪ/ 1SG.NOM spoke /spoːk/ speak-PAST too /tuː/ too rashly /ˈraʃliː/ rashly of /ɔv/ of her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.OBJ
34.28a She hopeth your ladyship will visit when occasion permits. 34.28b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM hopeth /ˈhoːpəθ/ hope-3SG.PRES your /jɔːr/ 2SG.POSS ladyship /ˈleɪdiːʃɪp/ ladyship will /wɪl/ will visit /ˈvɪzɪt/ visit when /hwɛn/ when occasion /ɔˈkeɪzjʊn/ occasion permits /pərˈmɪts/ permit-3SG.PRES
34.29a If she be truly ill, I shall attend her straightway. 34.29b If /ɪf/ if she /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM be /beː/ be-SUBJ truly /ˈtrʊːliː/ truly ill /ɪl/ ill I /aɪ/ 1SG.NOM shall /ʃal/ shall attend /əˈtɛnd/ attend her /hɛr/ 3SG.FEM.OBJ straightway /ˈstreɪtweɪ/ immediately
34.30a She would be much comforted thereby, I warrant. 34.30b She /ʃeː/ 3SG.FEM.NOM would /wʊd/ would be /beː/ be much /mʊtʃ/ much comforted /ˈkʊmfərtəd/ comfort-PAST.PTCP thereby /ðɛrˈbaɪ/ thereby I /aɪ/ 1SG.NOM warrant /ˈwɔrənt/ warrant
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Part B: Natural Sentences
34.16 She cometh not, and yet the hour groweth late. “She hasn’t come, and it’s getting late.”
34.17 Perchance she hath been detained by some business. “Perhaps she’s been held up by something.”
34.18 Nay, she promised faithfully she would attend. “No, she gave her word she would be here.”
34.19 She that breaketh her word is not to be trusted. “Anyone who breaks their promise cannot be trusted.”
34.20 Speak not so harshly; she may have cause. “Don’t be so critical; she might have a reason.”
34.21 What cause could she have that excuseth such neglect? “What reason could possibly excuse such rudeness?”
34.22 Madam, she is here; she cometh through the gate. “My lady, she’s arrived; she’s coming through the gate.”
34.23 Let she that hath tarried explain her delay. “Let the latecomer explain herself.”
34.24 Good morrow, lady; she of whom we spoke hath sent her greetings. “Good morning, my lady; the woman we discussed sends her regards.”
34.25 She sendeth greetings but not her person? “She sends regards but doesn’t come herself?”
34.26 She is fallen ill and could not travel. “She has taken ill and couldn’t make the journey.”
34.27 Then she is excused; I spoke too rashly of her. “Then she’s forgiven; I judged her too harshly.”
34.28 She hopeth your ladyship will visit when occasion permits. “She hopes you’ll visit when you’re able.”
34.29 If she be truly ill, I shall attend her straightway. “If she’s really unwell, I’ll go to her immediately.”
34.30 She would be much comforted thereby, I warrant. “I’m sure that would bring her great comfort.”
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Part C: Elizabethan Text Only
34.16 She cometh not, and yet the hour groweth late.
34.17 Perchance she hath been detained by some business.
34.18 Nay, she promised faithfully she would attend.
34.19 She that breaketh her word is not to be trusted.
34.20 Speak not so harshly; she may have cause.
34.21 What cause could she have that excuseth such neglect?
34.22 Madam, she is here; she cometh through the gate.
34.23 Let she that hath tarried explain her delay.
34.24 Good morrow, lady; she of whom we spoke hath sent her greetings.
34.25 She sendeth greetings but not her person?
34.26 She is fallen ill and could not travel.
34.27 Then she is excused; I spoke too rashly of her.
34.28 She hopeth your ladyship will visit when occasion permits.
34.29 If she be truly ill, I shall attend her straightway.
34.30 She would be much comforted thereby, I warrant.
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Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This dramatic dialogue demonstrates several characteristic Elizabethan constructions featuring the pronoun she.
Negation patterns: “She cometh not” places the negative not after the verb, a standard Elizabethan pattern that differs from modern “She doesn’t come.” Similarly, “Speak not” rather than “Don’t speak.”
Perfect constructions with “is”: The phrase “She is fallen ill” uses is rather than has as the auxiliary for verbs of motion and change of state. This construction, common in Shakespeare, parallels French and German usage.
Subjunctive mood: “If she be truly ill” employs the subjunctive be after the conditional if, where modern English would use indicative is.
The pronoun in relative constructions: “She that breaketh” and “she of whom we spoke” demonstrate the pronoun introducing relative clauses, a formal construction still possible but rare in modern English.
Period vocabulary: perchance (perhaps), morrow (morning), straightway (immediately), tarried (delayed), warrant (assure) exemplify Elizabethan lexical choices that create period flavour alongside the grammatical features.
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The Pronoun “She”
In Original Pronunciation (OP) reconstruction, she was likely pronounced /ʃeː/ with a longer, purer vowel than modern /ʃiː/. The vowel sat between modern “shay” and “she,” reflecting the Great Vowel Shift’s incomplete progress.
Words with “-tion” in this lesson:
petition /pɪˈtɪsjʊn/ — note the /sj/ cluster, not modern /ʃ/
reputation /rɛpjʊˈteɪsjʊn/ — similarly /sj/ transitioning to /ʃ/
occasion /ɔˈkeɪzjʊn/ — the voiced equivalent /zj/
Rhoticity:
All post-vocalic r sounds were pronounced: her /hɛr/, word /wʊrd/, warrant /ˈwɔrənt/
Common IPA Symbols Used:
/θ/ — voiceless dental fricative (as in “think”)
/ð/ — voiced dental fricative (as in “the”)
/ʊ/ — near-close near-back vowel (as in “put”)
/ɛː/ — open-mid front unrounded long vowel
/eː/ — close-mid front unrounded long vowel
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This Elizabethan English course follows the Latinum Institute methodology, employing interlinear construed text to make Early Modern English accessible to autodidact learners. The approach presents the target language with word-by-word glossing and period-accurate IPA pronunciation, allowing students to decode Shakespearean syntax while developing an intuitive feel for Elizabethan rhythm and vocabulary.
The Latinum Institute has been creating language learning materials since 2006, specializing in classical and historical languages. Our courses emphasize reading fluency through extensive exposure to authentic texts, supported by systematic vocabulary acquisition based on frequency data.
Course Index:
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Benefits of the Construed Text Approach:
The interlinear format allows learners to read authentic Elizabethan sentences immediately, without the frustration of looking up every word in a glossary. By placing the English gloss directly beneath each Early Modern form, students absorb grammatical patterns and vocabulary through natural reading rather than rote memorization. This method, developed for classical Latin and Greek instruction, proves equally effective for historical English, making Shakespeare and his contemporaries accessible to modern readers.
Why Study Elizabethan English?
Mastery of Early Modern English opens the entire corpus of English Renaissance literature: Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, the King James Bible, Marlowe’s tragedies, Spenser’s epic poetry, and Donne’s metaphysical verse. Understanding period grammar and pronunciation transforms these texts from challenging artifacts into living language, revealing wordplay, rhymes, and rhythms invisible to modern ears unfamiliar with Elizabethan speech patterns.
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✓ Lesson 034 Elizabethan English complete
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