Welcome to Lesson 67 of the Latinum Institute Elizabethan English Course. This lesson focuses on the verb give, one of the most essential transfer verbs in Early Modern English. As a ditransitive verb, “give” takes both a direct object (the thing given) and an indirect object (the recipient), making it central to expressing generosity, obligation, exchange, and divine favor in Elizabethan discourse.
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FAQ: What does “give” mean in Elizabethan English?
The verb “give” in Elizabethan English functions much as it does today, meaning to transfer possession, bestow, or grant something to another. However, its usage patterns, conjugations, and idiomatic expressions differ markedly from Modern English. The second person singular forms “givest” (thou givest) and “giveth” (he/she giveth) remain in active use, and the verb appears frequently in contexts of divine grace, feudal obligation, courtly exchange, and theatrical declamation. Shakespeare alone uses “give” over 1,200 times across his works.
In the 15 examples that follow, you will encounter “give” in various tenses, moods, and syntactical positions: as an imperative commanding generosity, in questions of moral weight, in subjunctive constructions expressing wishes, and in the complex ditransitive patterns that mark Elizabethan prose style.
Educational Note: This material is designed for autodidact learners seeking to read, understand, and appreciate Early Modern English texts (c. 1550-1650) in their original pronunciation and grammatical structure.
Key Takeaways: -
The verb “give” conjugates with distinctive second and third person singular endings (-est, -eth) -
Elizabethan pronunciation differs systematically from Modern English due to the ongoing Great Vowel Shift -
The suffix “-tion” was pronounced as two syllables /ti.ɒn/ or /si.ɒn/, not modern /ʃən/ -
Period English was fully rhotic (all “r” sounds pronounced) -
Past participles and past tenses often show -ed as a full syllable /ɪd/
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Critical Sound Distinctions:
The International Phonetic Alphabet transcriptions in this lesson reflect Early Modern English pronunciation circa 1590-1610, during Shakespeare’s most productive period. Key features include:
The “-tion” Suffix: Pronounced as two syllables /ti.ɒn/ or /si.ɒn/, never as modern /ʃən/. Thus “perfection” = /pər.ˈfek.ti.ɒn/ (four syllables), “imagination” = /ɪ.mad͡ʒ.ɪ.ˈneɪ.ti.ɒn/ (six syllables).
Rhoticity: All “r” sounds were pronounced, including post-vocalic r. “Heart” = /hɛrt/, “more” = /moːr/.
The “-ed” Suffix: Often pronounced as a separate syllable /ɪd/ for metrical purposes, especially in verse. “Blessèd” = /ˈbles.ɪd/, “learnèd” = /ˈlɜːrn.ɪd/.
Long Vowels (Great Vowel Shift in Progress): -
“meet” still pronounced closer to /meːt/ (like modern “mate” but longer) -
“name” fully shifted to /neɪm/ -
“life” pronounced /laɪf/ but with a slightly more open first element
Thou/You Distinction: “Thou” /ðaʊ/ for intimate/inferior address; “you” /juː/ for formal/plural.
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67.1a Give me thy hand, sweet friend. 67.1b Give (/gɪv/) give-IMP me (/miː/) me-DAT thy (/ðaɪ/) your-POSS.SG hand (/hænd/) hand sweet (/swiːt/) sweet friend (/frɛnd/) friend
67.2a Thou givest too freely of thy father’s gold. 67.2b Thou (/ðaʊ/) you-SG.NOM givest (/ˈgɪv.ɪst/) give-2SG.PRES too (/tuː/) too freely (/ˈfriː.li/) freely of (/ɒv/) of thy (/ðaɪ/) your-POSS.SG father’s (/ˈfɑː.ðərz/) father-POSS gold (/goʊld/) gold
67.3a She giveth alms unto the poor with Christian devotion. 67.3b She (/ʃiː/) she-NOM giveth (/ˈgɪv.ɪθ/) give-3SG.PRES alms (/ɑːmz/) alms unto (/ˈʌn.tuː/) unto the (/ðə/) the poor (/puːr/) poor with (/wɪθ/) with Christian (/ˈkrɪs.ti.ən/) Christian devotion (/dɪ.ˈvoʊ.ti.ɒn/) devotion
67.4a What gift shall I give unto my sovereign lord? 67.4b What (/hwɒt/) what gift (/gɪft/) gift shall (/ʃæl/) shall I (/aɪ/) I-NOM give (/gɪv/) give unto (/ˈʌn.tuː/) unto my (/maɪ/) my sovereign (/ˈsɒv.rɪn/) sovereign lord (/lɔːrd/) lord
67.5a They gave him neither comfort nor consolation. 67.5b They (/ðeɪ/) they-NOM gave (/geɪv/) give-PAST him (/hɪm/) him-DAT neither (/ˈniː.ðər/) neither comfort (/ˈkʌm.fərt/) comfort nor (/nɔːr/) nor consolation (/kɒn.sə.ˈleɪ.ti.ɒn/) consolation
67.6a The King hath given his word, and it shall not be broken. 67.6b The (/ðə/) the King (/kɪŋ/) king hath (/hæθ/) have-3SG.PRES given (/ˈgɪv.ən/) give-PAST.PTCP his (/hɪz/) his word (/wɜːrd/) word and (/ænd/) and it (/ɪt/) it shall (/ʃæl/) shall not (/nɒt/) not be (/biː/) be broken (/ˈbroʊ.kən/) break-PAST.PTCP
67.7a Give ear unto my supplication, O Lord. 67.7b Give (/gɪv/) give-IMP ear (/ɪːr/) ear unto (/ˈʌn.tuː/) unto my (/maɪ/) my supplication (/sʌp.lɪ.ˈkeɪ.ti.ɒn/) supplication O (/oʊ/) O-INTERJ Lord (/lɔːrd/) Lord
67.8a We have given over our hopes of victory. 67.8b We (/wiː/) we-NOM have (/hæv/) have-1PL.PRES given (/ˈgɪv.ən/) give-PAST.PTCP over (/ˈoʊ.vər/) over-ADV our (/aʊr/) our hopes (/hoʊps/) hope-PL of (/ɒv/) of victory (/ˈvɪk.tə.ri/) victory
67.9a Would that Heaven give me strength to endure this tribulation! 67.9b Would (/wʊd/) would that (/ðæt/) that-CONJ Heaven (/ˈhɛv.ən/) Heaven give (/gɪv/) give-SUBJ me (/miː/) me-DAT strength (/strɛŋθ/) strength to (/tuː/) to endure (/ɪn.ˈdjuːr/) endure this (/ðɪs/) this tribulation (/trɪb.juː.ˈleɪ.ti.ɒn/) tribulation
67.10a The physician gave instructions for the patient’s preservation. 67.10b The (/ðə/) the physician (/fɪ.ˈzɪ.ti.ən/) physician gave (/geɪv/) give-PAST instructions (/ɪn.ˈstrʌk.ti.ɒnz/) instruction-PL for (/fɔːr/) for the (/ðə/) the patient’s (/ˈpeɪ.ʃənts/) patient-POSS preservation (/prɛz.ər.ˈveɪ.ti.ɒn/) preservation
67.11a Dost thou give credence to such idle rumours? 67.11b Dost (/dʌst/) do-2SG.PRES thou (/ðaʊ/) you-SG.NOM give (/gɪv/) give credence (/ˈkriː.dəns/) credence to (/tuː/) to such (/sʌtʃ/) such idle (/ˈaɪ.dəl/) idle rumours (/ˈruː.mərz/) rumour-PL
67.12a The traitor was given unto the executioner at dawn. 67.12b The (/ðə/) the traitor (/ˈtreɪ.tər/) traitor was (/wɒz/) be-3SG.PAST given (/ˈgɪv.ən/) give-PAST.PTCP unto (/ˈʌn.tuː/) unto the (/ðə/) the executioner (/ɛk.sɪ.ˈkjuː.ti.ə.nər/) executioner at (/æt/) at dawn (/dɔːn/) dawn
67.13a Her beauteous visage giveth joy to all who behold it. 67.13b Her (/hɜːr/) her beauteous (/ˈbjuː.ti.əs/) beauteous visage (/ˈvɪz.ɪd͡ʒ/) visage giveth (/ˈgɪv.ɪθ/) give-3SG.PRES joy (/d͡ʒɔɪ/) joy to (/tuː/) to all (/ɔːl/) all who (/huː/) who-REL behold (/bɪ.ˈhoʊld/) behold it (/ɪt/) it
67.14a I shall give account of mine actions before God’s throne. 67.14b I (/aɪ/) I-NOM shall (/ʃæl/) shall give (/gɪv/) give account (/ə.ˈkaʊnt/) account of (/ɒv/) of mine (/maɪn/) my-POSS actions (/ˈæk.ti.ɒnz/) action-PL before (/bɪ.ˈfɔːr/) before God’s (/gɒdz/) God-POSS throne (/θroʊn/) throne
67.15a To give is more blessèd than to receive, as the Scripture teacheth. 67.15b To (/tuː/) to give (/gɪv/) give-INF is (/ɪz/) be-3SG.PRES more (/mɔːr/) more blessèd (/ˈbles.ɪd/) bless-PAST.PTCP than (/ðæn/) than to (/tuː/) to receive (/rɪ.ˈsiːv/) receive-INF as (/æz/) as the (/ðə/) the Scripture (/ˈskrɪp.tjuːr/) Scripture teacheth (/ˈtiː.tʃɪθ/) teach-3SG.PRES
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67.1 Give me thy hand, sweet friend. “Give me your hand, dear friend.”
67.2 Thou givest too freely of thy father’s gold. “You give too freely from your father’s gold.”
67.3 She giveth alms unto the poor with Christian devotion. “She gives alms to the poor with Christian devotion.”
67.4 What gift shall I give unto my sovereign lord? “What gift shall I give to my sovereign lord?”
67.5 They gave him neither comfort nor consolation. “They gave him neither comfort nor consolation.”
67.6 The King hath given his word, and it shall not be broken. “The King has given his word, and it shall not be broken.”
67.7 Give ear unto my supplication, O Lord. “Listen to my prayer, O Lord.”
67.8 We have given over our hopes of victory. “We have abandoned our hopes of victory.”
67.9 Would that Heaven give me strength to endure this tribulation! “If only Heaven would give me strength to endure this suffering!”
67.10 The physician gave instructions for the patient’s preservation. “The doctor gave instructions for the patient’s care.”
67.11 Dost thou give credence to such idle rumours? “Do you believe such baseless rumors?”
67.12 The traitor was given unto the executioner at dawn. “The traitor was handed over to the executioner at dawn.”
67.13 Her beauteous visage giveth joy to all who behold it. “Her beautiful face brings joy to all who see it.”
67.14 I shall give account of mine actions before God’s throne. “I shall give an account of my actions before God’s throne.”
67.15 To give is more blessèd than to receive, as the Scripture teacheth. “To give is more blessed than to receive, as Scripture teaches.”
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67.1 Give me thy hand, sweet friend.
67.2 Thou givest too freely of thy father’s gold.
67.3 She giveth alms unto the poor with Christian devotion.
67.4 What gift shall I give unto my sovereign lord?
67.5 They gave him neither comfort nor consolation.
67.6 The King hath given his word, and it shall not be broken.
67.7 Give ear unto my supplication, O Lord.
67.8 We have given over our hopes of victory.
67.9 Would that Heaven give me strength to endure this tribulation!
67.10 The physician gave instructions for the patient’s preservation.
67.11 Dost thou give credence to such idle rumours?
67.12 The traitor was given unto the executioner at dawn.
67.13 Her beauteous visage giveth joy to all who behold it.
67.14 I shall give account of mine actions before God’s throne.
67.15 To give is more blessèd than to receive, as the Scripture teacheth.
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These are the grammar rules for “give” in Elizabethan English:
Conjugation of “Give” in the Present Tense:
The present tense of “give” follows the regular pattern for strong verbs in Early Modern English, with distinctive endings for the second and third person singular when used with “thou” and “he/she/it”:
First person singular: I give (/aɪ gɪv/) Second person singular: thou givest (/ðaʊ ˈgɪv.ɪst/) Third person singular: he/she/it giveth (/hiː ˈgɪv.ɪθ/) or gives (/gɪvz/) First person plural: we give (/wiː gɪv/) Second person plural: you give (/juː gɪv/) — also formal singular Third person plural: they give (/ðeɪ gɪv/)
Note on -eth vs. -s: By the late Elizabethan period, both “giveth” and “gives” coexisted. The -eth ending was considered more formal, elevated, or archaic; the -s ending was becoming standard in everyday speech. Shakespeare uses both according to register and meter.
Past Tense and Past Participle:
Past tense: gave (/geɪv/) Past participle: given (/ˈgɪv.ən/)
The past participle combines with “have/hath” for perfect constructions: “I have given,” “thou hast given,” “he hath given.”
The Ditransitive Pattern:
As a ditransitive verb, “give” takes both a direct object (the thing given) and an indirect object (the recipient). Elizabethan English offers two patterns:
Pattern 1 — Indirect object first: “Give me thy hand” (Give + IO + DO) Pattern 2 — With preposition: “Give thy hand unto me” (Give + DO + unto/to + IO)
The preposition “unto” (/ˈʌn.tuː/) was more common than simple “to” in elevated or biblical registers.
Common Mistakes for Modern Readers:
Mistake 1: Pronouncing “-tion” as modern /ʃən/. Always use /ti.ɒn/: “devotion” = /dɪ.ˈvoʊ.ti.ɒn/, not /dɪ.ˈvoʊ.ʃən/.
Mistake 2: Dropping the “r” in words like “lord,” “more,” “heart.” Elizabethan English was fully rhotic.
Mistake 3: Confusing “thy” and “thine,” “my” and “mine.” Before consonants: thy, my. Before vowels: thine, mine. Thus “thy hand” but “thine eye,” “my sword” but “mine honour.”
Mistake 4: Using “thou” inappropriately. “Thou” was intimate or condescending; using it to a social superior was insulting. “You” was the safe, respectful choice.
Idiomatic Expressions with “Give”:
“Give ear” — to listen attentively (biblical/formal) “Give over” — to abandon, cease “Give account” — to explain, justify “Give the lie” — to accuse of lying “Give ground” — to retreat
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The Social Weight of Giving in Elizabethan England:
In Tudor and Stuart society, the act of giving was laden with social, political, and religious significance far beyond modern gift-exchange. Gift-giving established and reinforced hierarchical relationships: subjects gave “gifts” to monarchs (essentially mandatory tributes); patrons bestowed gifts upon clients, creating bonds of obligation; and the wealthy demonstrated their status through conspicuous generosity to the poor.
The Thou/You Dynamic in “Giving”:
When a superior “gives” to an inferior, the language often employs “thou”: “I give thee this reward.” When equals exchange or when inferiors address superiors, “you” predominates: “I give you my humble thanks.” The verb “give” thus participates in the elaborate pronoun-choreography of Elizabethan social interaction.
Religious Dimensions:
Biblical language suffused everyday speech. Phrases like “give ear” and “give thanks” came directly from the English Bible (first the Great Bible of 1539, then the Geneva Bible of 1560, and finally the King James Version of 1611). The theological concept that all gifts ultimately come from God—”every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17)—shaped how Elizabethans understood human generosity as participation in divine bounty.
Regional and Class Variations:
The -eth ending (giveth) persisted longer in formal, legal, and religious registers and in conservative dialects (particularly West Country speech). The -s ending (gives) spread from Northern and East Midland dialects into London speech over the sixteenth century. By Shakespeare’s time, -s was dominant in speech, but -eth remained available for elevated effect.
Theatrical Usage:
On the Elizabethan stage, “give” participates in grand rhetorical gestures. Characters “give” their words, their hands, their hearts, their allegiance. The physical act of giving—handing over a ring, a letter, a sword—created powerful visual symbolism that playwrights exploited constantly.
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Source: William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596-1598), Act IV, Scene 1
Portia’s famous speech on mercy employs “give” in its theological and judicial dimensions:
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
The (/ðə/) the quality (/ˈkwɒ.lɪ.ti/) quality of (/ɒv/) of mercy (/ˈmɜːr.si/) mercy is (/ɪz/) be-3SG.PRES not (/nɒt/) not strain’d (/streɪnd/) strain-PAST.PTCP
It (/ɪt/) it droppeth (/ˈdrɒp.ɪθ/) drop-3SG.PRES as (/æz/) as the (/ðə/) the gentle (/ˈd͡ʒɛn.təl/) gentle rain (/reɪn/) rain from (/frɒm/) from heaven (/ˈhɛv.ən/) heaven
Upon (/ə.ˈpɒn/) upon the (/ðə/) the place (/pleɪs/) place beneath (/bɪ.ˈniːθ/) beneath
It (/ɪt/) it is (/ɪz/) be-3SG.PRES twice (/twaɪs/) twice bless’d (/blɛst/) bless-PAST.PTCP
It (/ɪt/) it blesseth (/ˈbles.ɪθ/) bless-3SG.PRES him (/hɪm/) him-ACC that (/ðæt/) that-REL gives (/gɪvz/) give-3SG.PRES and (/ænd/) and him (/hɪm/) him-ACC that (/ðæt/) that-REL takes (/teɪks/) take-3SG.PRES
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
The quality of mercy is not strain’d; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice bless’d: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
“The nature of mercy is not forced; it falls like gentle rain from heaven upon the earth below. It is doubly blessed: it blesses both the one who gives and the one who receives.”
F-C: Authentic Text Only
The quality of mercy is not strain’d; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice bless’d: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This passage demonstrates the -eth ending (”droppeth,” “blesseth”) coexisting with the -s ending (”gives,” “takes”) within the same speech. Shakespeare likely chose the longer -eth forms to fill out the iambic pentameter while using the shorter -s forms where meter required fewer syllables.
The word “strain’d” (strained, forced) shows the common Elizabethan contraction of past participles for metrical purposes.
Note “twice bless’d” — the past participle used predicatively. The blessing operates in both directions: the giver is blessed by the act of giving, the receiver by the gift received.
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A scene in which a nobleman confronts his prodigal son about squandered gifts and inheritance.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
67.16a What, sirrah! Hast thou given away mine horses? 67.16b What (/hwɒt/) what-INTERJ sirrah (/ˈsɪr.ə/) sirrah-VOC Hast (/hæst/) have-2SG.PRES thou (/ðaʊ/) you-SG.NOM given (/ˈgɪv.ən/) give-PAST.PTCP away (/ə.ˈweɪ/) away mine (/maɪn/) my-POSS horses (/ˈhɔːr.sɪz/) horse-PL
67.17a Father, I gave them unto honest men who had greater need. 67.17b Father (/ˈfɑː.ðər/) father-VOC I (/aɪ/) I-NOM gave (/geɪv/) give-PAST them (/ðɛm/) them-ACC unto (/ˈʌn.tuː/) unto honest (/ˈɒn.ɪst/) honest men (/mɛn/) man-PL who (/huː/) who-REL had (/hæd/) have-PAST greater (/ˈgreɪ.tər/) great-COMP need (/niːd/) need
67.18a Greater need! And what of thine own preservation? 67.18b Greater (/ˈgreɪ.tər/) great-COMP need (/niːd/) need And (/ænd/) and what (/hwɒt/) what of (/ɒv/) of thine (/ðaɪn/) your-POSS.SG own (/oʊn/) own preservation (/prɛz.ər.ˈveɪ.ti.ɒn/) preservation
67.19a I give no thought to such worldly considerations. 67.19b I (/aɪ/) I-NOM give (/gɪv/) give-1SG.PRES no (/noʊ/) no thought (/θɔːt/) thought to (/tuː/) to such (/sʌtʃ/) such worldly (/ˈwɜːrld.li/) worldly considerations (/kən.sɪd.ər.ˈeɪ.ti.ɒnz/) consideration-PL
67.20a Then I shall give thee a lesson in consideration most harsh. 67.20b Then (/ðɛn/) then I (/aɪ/) I-NOM shall (/ʃæl/) shall give (/gɪv/) give thee (/ðiː/) you-SG.ACC a (/ə/) a lesson (/ˈlɛs.ən/) lesson in (/ɪn/) in consideration (/kən.sɪd.ər.ˈeɪ.ti.ɒn/) consideration most (/moʊst/) most harsh (/hɑːrʃ/) harsh
67.21a Give me leave to explain my disposition in this matter. 67.21b Give (/gɪv/) give-IMP me (/miː/) me-DAT leave (/liːv/) leave to (/tuː/) to explain (/ɪks.ˈpleɪn/) explain-INF my (/maɪ/) my disposition (/dɪs.pə.ˈzɪ.ti.ɒn/) disposition in (/ɪn/) in this (/ðɪs/) this matter (/ˈmæt.ər/) matter
67.22a Thy disposition giveth me cause for lamentation, not admiration. 67.22b Thy (/ðaɪ/) your-POSS.SG disposition (/dɪs.pə.ˈzɪ.ti.ɒn/) disposition giveth (/ˈgɪv.ɪθ/) give-3SG.PRES me (/miː/) me-DAT cause (/kɔːz/) cause for (/fɔːr/) for lamentation (/læm.ən.ˈteɪ.ti.ɒn/) lamentation not (/nɒt/) not admiration (/æd.mɪ.ˈreɪ.ti.ɒn/) admiration
67.23a Yet Scripture giveth instruction that we should give freely. 67.23b Yet (/jɛt/) yet Scripture (/ˈskrɪp.tjuːr/) Scripture giveth (/ˈgɪv.ɪθ/) give-3SG.PRES instruction (/ɪn.ˈstrʌk.ti.ɒn/) instruction that (/ðæt/) that-CONJ we (/wiː/) we-NOM should (/ʃʊd/) should give (/gɪv/) give freely (/ˈfriː.li/) freely
67.24a Dost thou presume to give me sermons from Holy Writ? 67.24b Dost (/dʌst/) do-2SG.PRES thou (/ðaʊ/) you-SG.NOM presume (/prɪ.ˈzjuːm/) presume to (/tuː/) to give (/gɪv/) give-INF me (/miː/) me-DAT sermons (/ˈsɜːr.mənz/) sermon-PL from (/frɒm/) from Holy (/ˈhoʊ.li/) holy Writ (/rɪt/) writ
67.25a I give but the truth, though it please thee not. 67.25b I (/aɪ/) I-NOM give (/gɪv/) give-1SG.PRES but (/bʌt/) but-ADV the (/ðə/) the truth (/truːθ/) truth though (/ðoʊ/) though-CONJ it (/ɪt/) it-NOM please (/pliːz/) please-SUBJ thee (/ðiː/) you-SG.ACC not (/nɒt/) not
67.26a Thy mother’s estate was given unto thee for protection, not dissipation. 67.26b Thy (/ðaɪ/) your-POSS.SG mother’s (/ˈmʌð.ərz/) mother-POSS estate (/ɪs.ˈteɪt/) estate was (/wɒz/) be-3SG.PAST given (/ˈgɪv.ən/) give-PAST.PTCP unto (/ˈʌn.tuː/) unto thee (/ðiː/) you-SG.DAT for (/fɔːr/) for protection (/prə.ˈtɛk.ti.ɒn/) protection not (/nɒt/) not dissipation (/dɪs.ɪ.ˈpeɪ.ti.ɒn/) dissipation
67.27a I have given it the protection of righteous distribution. 67.27b I (/aɪ/) I-NOM have (/hæv/) have-1SG.PRES given (/ˈgɪv.ən/) give-PAST.PTCP it (/ɪt/) it-ACC the (/ðə/) the protection (/prə.ˈtɛk.ti.ɒn/) protection of (/ɒv/) of righteous (/ˈraɪ.tʃəs/) righteous distribution (/dɪs.trɪ.ˈbjuː.ti.ɒn/) distribution
67.28a Then let the righteous give thee shelter, for I shall not. 67.28b Then (/ðɛn/) then let (/lɛt/) let-IMP the (/ðə/) the righteous (/ˈraɪ.tʃəs/) righteous give (/gɪv/) give thee (/ðiː/) you-SG.DAT shelter (/ˈʃɛl.tər/) shelter for (/fɔːr/) for I (/aɪ/) I-NOM shall (/ʃæl/) shall not (/nɒt/) not
67.29a Father, I beseech thee, give not way unto such wrath. 67.29b Father (/ˈfɑː.ðər/) father-VOC I (/aɪ/) I-NOM beseech (/bɪ.ˈsiːtʃ/) beseech thee (/ðiː/) you-SG.ACC give (/gɪv/) give-IMP not (/nɒt/) not way (/weɪ/) way unto (/ˈʌn.tuː/) unto such (/sʌtʃ/) such wrath (/rɒθ/) wrath
67.30a When thou hast given away all, then shalt thou know true want. 67.30b When (/hwɛn/) when thou (/ðaʊ/) you-SG.NOM hast (/hæst/) have-2SG.PRES given (/ˈgɪv.ən/) give-PAST.PTCP away (/ə.ˈweɪ/) away all (/ɔːl/) all then (/ðɛn/) then shalt (/ʃælt/) shall-2SG thou (/ðaʊ/) you-SG.NOM know (/noʊ/) know true (/truː/) true want (/wɒnt/) want
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Part B: Natural Sentences
67.16 What, sirrah! Hast thou given away mine horses? “What, boy! Have you given away my horses?”
67.17 Father, I gave them unto honest men who had greater need. “Father, I gave them to honest men who had greater need.”
67.18 Greater need! And what of thine own preservation? “Greater need! And what about your own survival?”
67.19 I give no thought to such worldly considerations. “I give no thought to such worldly concerns.”
67.20 Then I shall give thee a lesson in consideration most harsh. “Then I shall give you a most harsh lesson in such concerns.”
67.21 Give me leave to explain my disposition in this matter. “Allow me to explain my inclination in this matter.”
67.22 Thy disposition giveth me cause for lamentation, not admiration. “Your inclination gives me cause for grief, not admiration.”
67.23 Yet Scripture giveth instruction that we should give freely. “Yet Scripture gives instruction that we should give freely.”
67.24 Dost thou presume to give me sermons from Holy Writ? “Do you presume to preach to me from Holy Scripture?”
67.25 I give but the truth, though it please thee not. “I speak only the truth, though it may not please you.”
67.26 Thy mother’s estate was given unto thee for protection, not dissipation. “Your mother’s estate was given to you for safekeeping, not squandering.”
67.27 I have given it the protection of righteous distribution. “I have protected it through righteous distribution.”
67.28 Then let the righteous give thee shelter, for I shall not. “Then let the righteous give you shelter, for I shall not.”
67.29 Father, I beseech thee, give not way unto such wrath. “Father, I beg you, do not give in to such anger.”
67.30 When thou hast given away all, then shalt thou know true want. “When you have given away everything, then you will know true poverty.”
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Part C: Elizabethan Text Only
67.16 What, sirrah! Hast thou given away mine horses?
67.17 Father, I gave them unto honest men who had greater need.
67.18 Greater need! And what of thine own preservation?
67.19 I give no thought to such worldly considerations.
67.20 Then I shall give thee a lesson in consideration most harsh.
67.21 Give me leave to explain my disposition in this matter.
67.22 Thy disposition giveth me cause for lamentation, not admiration.
67.23 Yet Scripture giveth instruction that we should give freely.
67.24 Dost thou presume to give me sermons from Holy Writ?
67.25 I give but the truth, though it please thee not.
67.26 Thy mother’s estate was given unto thee for protection, not dissipation.
67.27 I have given it the protection of righteous distribution.
67.28 Then let the righteous give thee shelter, for I shall not.
67.29 Father, I beseech thee, give not way unto such wrath.
67.30 When thou hast given away all, then shalt thou know true want.
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Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
The “-tion” Suffix Throughout the Dialogue:
This theatrical dialogue showcases the “-tion” suffix in multiple words, all of which should be pronounced with two syllables /ti.ɒn/: -
preservation (/prɛz.ər.ˈveɪ.ti.ɒn/) — five syllables -
considerations (/kən.sɪd.ər.ˈeɪ.ti.ɒnz/) — six syllables -
consideration (/kən.sɪd.ər.ˈeɪ.ti.ɒn/) — six syllables -
disposition (/dɪs.pə.ˈzɪ.ti.ɒn/) — five syllables -
lamentation (/læm.ən.ˈteɪ.ti.ɒn/) — five syllables -
admiration (/æd.mɪ.ˈreɪ.ti.ɒn/) — five syllables -
instruction (/ɪn.ˈstrʌk.ti.ɒn/) — four syllables -
protection (/prə.ˈtɛk.ti.ɒn/) — four syllables -
dissipation (/dɪs.ɪ.ˈpeɪ.ti.ɒn/) — five syllables -
distribution (/dɪs.trɪ.ˈbjuː.ti.ɒn/) — five syllables
The Thou/You Dynamic:
The father uses “thou” throughout to his son, marking both intimacy and authority (a parent to a child). This “thou” carries an edge of anger—the father could shift to distant, cold “you” to mark rejection, but instead maintains the intimate “thou” even in fury, showing the bond he cannot sever.
“Sirrah”:
The address “sirrah” (/ˈsɪr.ə/) was used to inferiors or in contempt. A father addressing his son as “sirrah” signals severe displeasure.
Imperative Negation:
Note “give not way” rather than modern “do not give way.” Elizabethan imperatives could be negated by placing “not” after the verb directly, without the auxiliary “do.”
Subjunctive in Conditional Clauses:
“Though it please thee not” — the subjunctive “please” (not “pleases”) in a concessive clause was standard in Elizabethan English.
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Key Words with Period IPA:
Word Modern IPA Elizabethan IPA Notes give /ɡɪv/ /gɪv/ Similar gave /ɡeɪv/ /geɪv/ Similar given /ˈɡɪvən/ /ˈgɪv.ən/ Similar givest — /ˈgɪv.ɪst/ 2SG form giveth — /ˈgɪv.ɪθ/ 3SG form devotion /dɪˈvoʊʃən/ /dɪ.ˈvoʊ.ti.ɒn/ Four syllables preservation /ˌprɛzərˈveɪʃən/ /prɛz.ər.ˈveɪ.ti.ɒn/ Five syllables consideration /kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən/ /kən.sɪd.ər.ˈeɪ.ti.ɒn/ Six syllables
Common Pronunciation Errors for Modern English Speakers:
Error 1: Pronouncing “-tion” as one syllable /ʃən/. This destroys the meter of Elizabethan verse. Always use /ti.ɒn/.
Error 2: Dropping post-vocalic “r.” Say “lord” as /lɔːrd/, not /lɔːd/. Elizabethan English was fully rhotic.
Error 3: Pronouncing “wh-” words as simple /w/. Many speakers still distinguished /hw/ from /w/: “what” = /hwɒt/, “when” = /hwɛn/.
Error 4: Modern vowel qualities. The Great Vowel Shift was still in progress; some vowels retained older qualities closer to their spellings.
Audio Reference Suggestions: -
David Crystal and Ben Crystal’s Original Pronunciation recordings -
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre OP productions -
Librivox recordings in reconstructed Early Modern pronunciation
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The Latinum Institute has been creating language learning materials for autodidacts since 2006. Our Elizabethan English course applies the same rigorous interlinear construed-text methodology that has helped thousands of students master Latin, Greek, and other classical languages.
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The Autodidact Methodology:
Our approach assumes no classroom, no teacher, no conversation partner—only you and the text. The interlinear format places the support you need exactly where you need it: under each word, in every sentence. You absorb grammatical patterns naturally as you read, rather than memorizing rules in the abstract.
Benefits of the Construed Text Approach:
The construed text method, developed over centuries for teaching Latin and Greek, works equally well for historical English. By seeing each word glossed individually, you develop an intuitive sense of Elizabethan word order, verb conjugations, and pronominal distinctions. The format allows you to read authentic texts from the first lesson, building real reading fluency rather than artificial textbook competence.
How Interlinear Glossing Accelerates Comprehension:
Interlinear glossing creates multiple pathways to meaning. Your eye moves between the original text and the glosses, training pattern recognition at the word, phrase, and sentence levels simultaneously. This parallel processing dramatically accelerates acquisition compared to sequential grammar-then-reading approaches.
Why Study Elizabethan English?
The language of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Spenser, and the King James Bible remains the bedrock of English literary culture. Yet its grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation differ enough from Modern English to create genuine barriers to understanding. This course bridges that gap, giving you the tools to read Early Modern texts with fluency and appreciation.
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✓ Lesson 67 Elizabethan English complete
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