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What does “find” mean in Elizabethan English?
The verb finde in Early Modern English (c. 1550–1650) encompasses the full semantic range of modern “find” — to discover, to perceive, to judge, to provide for, and to experience. Shakespeare and his contemporaries employed this verb with remarkable versatility, using it both literally (to locate something lost) and figuratively (to discover truth, to experience emotion, to render judgment).
In Elizabethan usage, finde carries particular weight in legal and philosophical contexts. To “find” a verdict meant to render judgment; to “find” one’s heart meant to discover one’s true feelings. The verb also appeared in the now-archaic sense of “to provide for” — a husband might be expected to “find” his wife in necessities.
This lesson presents finde across its various meanings through fifteen core examples and fifteen additional examples in a dramatic genre section, all rendered with Original Pronunciation (OP) transcriptions reflecting how educated Londoners of Shakespeare’s era would have spoken.
Key Takeaways: -
Finde conjugates: I finde, thou findest, he/she findeth, we/they finde -
The past tense is found (/faʊnd/ in OP) -
The past participle is found (often appearing as “I have found”) -
Note the “-eth” third person singular ending pronounced /əθ/ -
Period spelling often shows “finde” with final silent -e
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Key Sound Differences from Modern English:
The “-tion” suffix in words like perfection, ambition, condition was pronounced /sɪən/ (”see-on”) rather than modern /ʃən/ (”shun”). Thus perfection = /pərˈfɛksɪən/.
Long vowels had not yet completed the Great Vowel Shift: -
“find” retained a pure /aɪ/ but earlier forms showed /iː/ -
“found” = /faʊnd/ (similar to modern) -
“thee” = /ðiː/ (rhymes with modern “thee”)
The letter ‘r’ was pronounced in all positions (rhotic accent), unlike modern Received Pronunciation.
Final “-ed” in past tenses was often pronounced as a full syllable /ɪd/ or /əd/ in elevated speech.
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72.1a I finde no fault in this man. 72.1b I (/aɪ/) I finde (/faɪnd/) find no (/noː/) no fault (/fɔːlt/) fault in (/ɪn/) in this (/ðɪs/) this man (/man/) man
72.2a Thou findest thy heart most troubled. 72.2b Thou (/ðaʊ/) thou findest (/ˈfaɪndɪst/) find-2SG thy (/ðaɪ/) thy heart (/hɛːrt/) heart most (/moːst/) most troubled (/ˈtrʊbld/) troubled
72.3a She findeth comfort in her prayers. 72.3b She (/ʃiː/) she findeth (/ˈfaɪndəθ/) find-3SG comfort (/ˈkʊmfərt/) comfort in (/ɪn/) in her (/hɛːr/) her prayers (/prɛːrz/) prayers
72.4a We finde ourselves in strange condition. 72.4b We (/wiː/) we finde (/faɪnd/) find ourselves (/aʊrˈsɛlvz/) ourselves in (/ɪn/) in strange (/strɛːndʒ/) strange condition (/kənˈdɪsɪən/) condition
72.5a The honest man findeth truth at last. 72.5b The (/ðə/) the honest (/ˈɒnɪst/) honest man (/man/) man findeth (/ˈfaɪndəθ/) find-3SG truth (/truːθ/) truth at (/at/) at last (/laːst/) last
72.6a Canst thou finde the letters I did leave thee? 72.6b Canst (/kanst/) can-2SG thou (/ðaʊ/) thou finde (/faɪnd/) find the (/ðə/) the letters (/ˈlɛtərz/) letters I (/aɪ/) I did (/dɪd/) did leave (/liːv/) leave thee (/ðiː/) thee
72.7a They found the villain hid within the wood. 72.7b They (/ðɛɪ/) they found (/faʊnd/) found-PAST the (/ðə/) the villain (/ˈvɪlən/) villain hid (/hɪd/) hidden within (/wɪðˈɪn/) within the (/ðə/) the wood (/wʊd/) wood
72.8a What perfection findest thou in mortal flesh? 72.8b What (/hwat/) what perfection (/pərˈfɛksɪən/) perfection findest (/ˈfaɪndɪst/) find-2SG thou (/ðaʊ/) thou in (/ɪn/) in mortal (/ˈmɔːrtəl/) mortal flesh (/flɛʃ/) flesh
72.9a I have found mine enemy most treacherous. 72.9b I (/aɪ/) I have (/hav/) have found (/faʊnd/) found-PTCP mine (/maɪn/) my enemy (/ˈɛnəmiː/) enemy most (/moːst/) most treacherous (/ˈtrɛtʃərəs/) treacherous
72.10a The jury found the prisoner guilty of murder. 72.10b The (/ðə/) the jury (/ˈdʒuːriː/) jury found (/faʊnd/) found-PAST the (/ðə/) the prisoner (/ˈprɪzənər/) prisoner guilty (/ˈgɪltiː/) guilty of (/ɒv/) of murder (/ˈmʊrdər/) murder
72.11a Her father will finde her in meat and lodging. 72.11b Her (/hɛːr/) her father (/ˈfaːðər/) father will (/wɪl/) will finde (/faɪnd/) find her (/hɛːr/) her in (/ɪn/) in meat (/miːt/) food and (/and/) and lodging (/ˈlɒdʒɪŋ/) lodging
72.12a Ambition findeth no satisfaction in conquest. 72.12b Ambition (/amˈbɪsɪən/) ambition findeth (/ˈfaɪndəθ/) find-3SG no (/noː/) no satisfaction (/satɪsˈfaksɪən/) satisfaction in (/ɪn/) in conquest (/ˈkɒŋkwɛst/) conquest
72.13a Go finde thy brother ere the sun doth set. 72.13b Go (/goː/) go-IMP finde (/faɪnd/) find thy (/ðaɪ/) thy brother (/ˈbrʊðər/) brother ere (/ɛːr/) before the (/ðə/) the sun (/sʊn/) sun doth (/dʊθ/) does set (/sɛt/) set
72.14a I find it passing strange that he should flee. 72.14b I (/aɪ/) I find (/faɪnd/) find it (/ɪt/) it passing (/ˈpaːsɪŋ/) exceedingly strange (/strɛːndʒ/) strange that (/ðat/) that he (/hiː/) he should (/ʃʊd/) should flee (/fliː/) flee
72.15a She never found occasion to repent her choice. 72.15b She (/ʃiː/) she never (/ˈnɛvər/) never found (/faʊnd/) found-PAST occasion (/əˈkɛːzɪən/) occasion to (/tuː/) to repent (/rɪˈpɛnt/) repent her (/hɛːr/) her choice (/tʃɔɪs/) choice
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72.1 I finde no fault in this man. “I find no fault in this man.”
72.2 Thou findest thy heart most troubled. “You find your heart most troubled.”
72.3 She findeth comfort in her prayers. “She finds comfort in her prayers.”
72.4 We finde ourselves in strange condition. “We find ourselves in a strange condition.”
72.5 The honest man findeth truth at last. “The honest man finds truth at last.”
72.6 Canst thou finde the letters I did leave thee? “Can you find the letters I left you?”
72.7 They found the villain hid within the wood. “They found the villain hidden within the forest.”
72.8 What perfection findest thou in mortal flesh? “What perfection do you find in mortal flesh?”
72.9 I have found mine enemy most treacherous. “I have found my enemy most treacherous.”
72.10 The jury found the prisoner guilty of murder. “The jury found the prisoner guilty of murder.”
72.11 Her father will finde her in meat and lodging. “Her father will provide her with food and lodging.”
72.12 Ambition findeth no satisfaction in conquest. “Ambition finds no satisfaction in conquest.”
72.13 Go finde thy brother ere the sun doth set. “Go find your brother before the sun sets.”
72.14 I find it passing strange that he should flee. “I find it exceedingly strange that he should flee.”
72.15 She never found occasion to repent her choice. “She never found occasion to regret her choice.”
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72.1 I finde no fault in this man.
72.2 Thou findest thy heart most troubled.
72.3 She findeth comfort in her prayers.
72.4 We finde ourselves in strange condition.
72.5 The honest man findeth truth at last.
72.6 Canst thou finde the letters I did leave thee?
72.7 They found the villain hid within the wood.
72.8 What perfection findest thou in mortal flesh?
72.9 I have found mine enemy most treacherous.
72.10 The jury found the prisoner guilty of murder.
72.11 Her father will finde her in meat and lodging.
72.12 Ambition findeth no satisfaction in conquest.
72.13 Go finde thy brother ere the sun doth set.
72.14 I find it passing strange that he should flee.
72.15 She never found occasion to repent her choice.
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These are the grammar rules for “finde” in Elizabethan English:
Present Tense Conjugation: The verb finde follows the standard Early Modern English conjugation pattern with distinctive second and third person singular endings.
First person singular: I finde (/faɪnd/) Second person singular (familiar): thou findest (/ˈfaɪndɪst/) Third person singular: he/she/it findeth (/ˈfaɪndəθ/) First person plural: we finde (/faɪnd/) Second person plural/formal singular: you finde (/faɪnd/) Third person plural: they finde (/faɪnd/)
Past Tense: All persons: found (/faʊnd/) Note: The auxiliary “did” could be used for emphasis or in questions: “I did finde” or “didst thou finde?”
Past Participle: Found — used with auxiliaries: “I have found,” “it was found,” “having found”
Present Participle: Finding (/ˈfaɪndɪŋ/) — “finding no cause,” “upon finding the letter”
The Thou/You Distinction: Elizabethan English maintained the T-V distinction inherited from earlier English. Thou/thee/thy was used for addressing social inferiors, intimates, children, and in passionate speech (both loving and contemptuous). You/your was the polite form for equals and superiors, and had become the default in most formal situations by Shakespeare’s time.
When a character suddenly switches from “you” to “thou,” it signals either growing intimacy or deliberate insult. Thus “thou findest” in context carries social information beyond mere grammar.
The “-eth” vs. “-s” Third Person: By the late sixteenth century, the northern “-s” ending (he finds) was competing with the southern “-eth” (he findeth). Shakespeare used both, with “-eth” slightly more common in formal or poetic contexts. Both were pronounced: “-eth” as /əθ/ and “-s” as /z/ or /s/.
The Archaic Meaning “To Provide”: In legal and domestic contexts, “to finde” could mean “to provide for” or “to supply necessities.” A contract might specify that a master shall “finde” an apprentice in food and clothing. This usage survives in the phrase “all found” meaning “with all necessities provided.”
Common Mistakes: -
Using “thou find” instead of “thou findest” — the “-est” ending is obligatory with “thou” -
Pronouncing “-tion” as modern /ʃən/ instead of period-authentic /sɪən/ -
Forgetting that “doth” (does) and “hath” (has) are the third person forms of auxiliary verbs -
Treating “thou” as merely archaic rather than understanding its social significance
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Legal Usage: In Elizabethan courts, juries “found” verdicts. To “find a bill” meant a grand jury determined sufficient evidence existed for trial. This legal sense of “find” as “to determine by judgment” permeates Shakespeare’s trial scenes and gives weight to everyday uses: when characters say “I find him honest,” they invoke the authority of judicial finding.
Religious Resonance: The phrase “I find no fault in this man” echoes Pilate’s words regarding Christ (John 18:38). Elizabethan audiences, immersed in biblical language, would recognize such allusions. To “find” grace, mercy, or salvation carried profound spiritual weight.
Proverbial Expressions: Several proverbs featuring “find” circulated widely: “Seek and ye shall find” (biblical); “Finders keepers, losers weepers”; “He that would find good must first seek it.” Speakers could invoke these commonplaces for rhetorical effect.
The Discovery Trope: The age of exploration gave “find” particular resonance. To “find” new lands, peoples, and wonders was the great enterprise of the era. This semantic richness — finding as physical discovery, intellectual revelation, and spiritual awakening — made “finde” a verb of tremendous dramatic potential.
Register Variation: Educated speakers employed Latinate synonyms like “discover,” “perceive,” “detect,” and “ascertain” in elevated contexts, reserving plain “find” for ordinary speech. Yet “find” maintained dignity in all registers, appropriate alike for kings and clowns.
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From William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596), Act IV, Scene 1:
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
I (/aɪ/) I am (/am/) am not (/nɒt/) not bound (/baʊnd/) bound to (/tuː/) to please (/pliːz/) please thee (/ðiː/) thee with (/wɪθ/) with my (/maɪ/) my answer. (/ˈaːnsər/) answer
Do (/duː/) do all (/ɔːl/) all men (/mɛn/) men kill (/kɪl/) kill the (/ðə/) the things (/θɪŋz/) things they (/ðɛɪ/) they do (/duː/) do not (/nɒt/) not love? (/lʊv/) love
Hates (/hɛːts/) hates any (/ˈɛniː/) any man (/man/) man the (/ðə/) the thing (/θɪŋ/) thing he (/hiː/) he would (/wʊd/) would not (/nɒt/) not kill? (/kɪl/) kill
Every (/ˈɛvriː/) every offence (/əˈfɛns/) offence is (/ɪz/) is not (/nɒt/) not a (/ə/) a hate (/hɛːt/) hate at (/at/) at first. (/fɛːrst/) first
What, (/hwat/) what wouldst (/wʊdst/) would-2SG thou (/ðaʊ/) thou have (/hav/) have a (/ə/) a serpent (/ˈsɛːrpənt/) serpent sting (/stɪŋ/) sting thee (/ðiː/) thee twice? (/twaɪs/) twice
I (/aɪ/) I pray (/prɛɪ/) pray you, (/juː/) you think (/θɪŋk/) think you (/juː/) you question (/ˈkwɛstʃən/) question-with with (/wɪθ/) with the (/ðə/) the Jew. (/dʒuː/) Jew
You (/juː/) you may (/mɛɪ/) may as (/az/) as well (/wɛl/) well go (/goː/) go stand (/stand/) stand upon (/əˈpɒn/) upon the (/ðə/) the beach (/biːtʃ/) beach
And (/and/) and bid (/bɪd/) bid the (/ðə/) the main (/mɛɪn/) main flood (/flʊd/) flood bate (/bɛːt/) abate his (/hɪz/) his usual (/ˈjuːʒuəl/) usual height; (/haɪt/) height
You (/juː/) you may (/mɛɪ/) may as (/az/) as well (/wɛl/) well use (/juːz/) use question (/ˈkwɛstʃən/) question with (/wɪθ/) with the (/ðə/) the wolf (/wʊlf/) wolf
Why (/hwaɪ/) why he (/hiː/) he hath (/haθ/) has made (/mɛːd/) made the (/ðə/) the ewe (/juː/) ewe bleat (/bliːt/) bleat for (/fɔːr/) for the (/ðə/) the lamb; (/lam/) lamb
You (/juː/) you may (/mɛɪ/) may as (/az/) as well (/wɛl/) well forbid (/fɔːrˈbɪd/) forbid the (/ðə/) the mountain (/ˈmaʊntɪn/) mountain pines (/paɪnz/) pines
To (/tuː/) to wag (/wag/) wag their (/ðɛːr/) their high (/haɪ/) high tops (/tɒps/) tops and (/and/) and to (/tuː/) to make (/mɛːk/) make no (/noː/) no noise (/nɔɪz/) noise
When (/hwɛn/) when they (/ðɛɪ/) they are (/aːr/) are fretted (/ˈfrɛtɪd/) vexed with (/wɪθ/) with the (/ðə/) the gusts (/gʊsts/) gusts of (/ɒv/) of heaven; (/ˈhɛvən/) heaven
As (/az/) as seek (/siːk/) seek to (/tuː/) to soften (/ˈsɒftən/) soften that— (/ðat/) that than (/ðan/) than which (/hwɪtʃ/) which what’s (/hwats/) what-is harder?— (/ˈhaːrdər/) harder
His (/hɪz/) his Jewish (/ˈdʒuːɪʃ/) Jewish heart. (/haːrt/) heart
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Do all men kill the things they do not love? Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Every offence is not a hate at first. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? I pray you, think you question with the Jew. You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops and to make no noise When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; As seek to soften that—than which what’s harder?— His Jewish heart.
“I am not obligated to please you with my answer. Do all men kill what they do not love? Does any man hate what he would not kill? Not every offense begins as hatred. What, would you let a snake bite you twice? I ask you to remember that you are reasoning with a Jew. You might as well stand on the shore and command the tide to lower itself; you might as well argue with the wolf about why he made the sheep cry for her lamb; you might as well forbid the mountain pines to sway and rustle when the winds of heaven blow through them; as seek to soften that—and what could be harder?—his Jewish heart.”
F-C: Elizabethan Text Only
I am not bound to please thee with my answer. Do all men kill the things they do not love? Hates any man the thing he would not kill? Every offence is not a hate at first. What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? I pray you, think you question with the Jew. You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops and to make no noise When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven; As seek to soften that—than which what’s harder?— His Jewish heart.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This speech by Shylock demonstrates several key grammatical features. Note the thou/you alternation: Shylock uses “thee” (object of “please,” “sting”) when addressing his antagonists with contemptuous familiarity, while “you” appears in the more measured rhetorical questions. The verb “hath” is the third person singular of “have” (modern “has”). The construction “you may as well” introduces the extended metaphor comparing attempts to persuade Shylock to impossible natural phenomena. The verb “bate” (to abate, diminish) shows a characteristic Elizabethan contraction. The relative construction “than which what’s harder” demonstrates the flexible word order possible in Early Modern English syntax. While “find” does not appear in this passage, the speech’s theme of judgment and perception connects directly to our topic word’s semantic field.
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A Scene of Discovery and Revelation
Enter EDMUND, a young gentleman, and MARGERY, his aged nurse, in the hall of a great house. EDMUND searches among papers and books.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
72.16a Margery, I have found it! The letter my father hid! 72.16b Margery, (/ˈmaːrdʒəriː/) Margery I (/aɪ/) I have (/hav/) have found (/faʊnd/) found-PTCP it! (/ɪt/) it The (/ðə/) the letter (/ˈlɛtər/) letter my (/maɪ/) my father (/ˈfaːðər/) father hid! (/hɪd/) hid
72.17a What findest thou written therein, young master? 72.17b What (/hwat/) what findest (/ˈfaɪndɪst/) find-2SG thou (/ðaʊ/) thou written (/ˈrɪtən/) written therein, (/ðɛːrˈɪn/) therein young (/jʊŋ/) young master? (/ˈmaːstər/) master
72.18a I finde here such strange information as doth confound me. 72.18b I (/aɪ/) I finde (/faɪnd/) find here (/hiːr/) here such (/sʊtʃ/) such strange (/strɛːndʒ/) strange information (/ɪnfɔːrˈmɛːsɪən/) information as (/az/) as doth (/dʊθ/) does confound (/kənˈfaʊnd/) confound me (/miː/) me
72.19a Tell me, good nurse, for I finde myself most perplexed. 72.19b Tell (/tɛl/) tell-IMP me, (/miː/) me good (/gʊd/) good nurse, (/nɛːrs/) nurse for (/fɔːr/) for I (/aɪ/) I finde (/faɪnd/) find myself (/maɪˈsɛlf/) myself most (/moːst/) most perplexed (/pərˈplɛkst/) perplexed
72.20a My father’s letter speaks of a secret I never found till now. 72.20b My (/maɪ/) my father’s (/ˈfaːðərz/) father-GEN letter (/ˈlɛtər/) letter speaks (/spiːks/) speaks of (/ɒv/) of a (/ə/) a secret (/ˈsiːkrɪt/) secret I (/aɪ/) I never (/ˈnɛvər/) never found (/faʊnd/) found-PAST till (/tɪl/) until now (/naʊ/) now
72.21a Alas, I feared this day would come when thou shouldst finde the truth. 72.21b Alas, (/əˈlas/) alas I (/aɪ/) I feared (/fiːrd/) feared this (/ðɪs/) this day (/dɛɪ/) day would (/wʊd/) would come (/kʊm/) come when (/hwɛn/) when thou (/ðaʊ/) thou shouldst (/ʃʊdst/) should-2SG finde (/faɪnd/) find the (/ðə/) the truth (/truːθ/) truth
72.22a It says he found me as an infant abandon’d by the road. 72.22b It (/ɪt/) it says (/sɛːz/) says he (/hiː/) he found (/faʊnd/) found-PAST me (/miː/) me as (/az/) as an (/ən/) an infant (/ˈɪnfənt/) infant abandon’d (/əˈbandənd/) abandoned by (/baɪ/) by the (/ðə/) the road (/roːd/) road
72.23a Then am I no true son of this house, but a foundling? 72.23b Then (/ðɛn/) then am (/am/) am I (/aɪ/) I no (/noː/) no true (/truː/) true son (/sʊn/) son of (/ɒv/) of this (/ðɪs/) this house, (/haʊs/) house but (/bʊt/) but a (/ə/) a foundling? (/ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/) foundling
72.24a Thou art found and loved, which is more than many born in silk can say. 72.24b Thou (/ðaʊ/) thou art (/aːrt/) are-2SG found (/faʊnd/) found-PTCP and (/and/) and loved, (/lʊvd/) loved which (/hwɪtʃ/) which is (/ɪz/) is more (/mɔːr/) more than (/ðan/) than many (/ˈmɛniː/) many born (/bɔːrn/) born in (/ɪn/) in silk (/sɪlk/) silk can (/kan/) can say (/sɛɪ/) say
72.25a I must finde my true parents, whoever they may prove to be. 72.25b I (/aɪ/) I must (/mʊst/) must finde (/faɪnd/) find my (/maɪ/) my true (/truː/) true parents, (/ˈpɛːrənts/) parents whoever (/huːˈɛvər/) whoever they (/ðɛɪ/) they may (/mɛɪ/) may prove (/pruːv/) prove to (/tuː/) to be (/biː/) be
72.26a What if thou findest them base and poor? Wilt thou love them still? 72.26b What (/hwat/) what if (/ɪf/) if thou (/ðaʊ/) thou findest (/ˈfaɪndɪst/) find-2SG them (/ðɛm/) them base (/bɛːs/) base and (/and/) and poor? (/pʊːr/) poor Wilt (/wɪlt/) will-2SG thou (/ðaʊ/) thou love (/lʊv/) love them (/ðɛm/) them still? (/stɪl/) still
72.27a Blood findeth blood, they say. I shall know them by instinct. 72.27b Blood (/blʊd/) blood findeth (/ˈfaɪndəθ/) find-3SG blood, (/blʊd/) blood they (/ðɛɪ/) they say (/sɛɪ/) say I (/aɪ/) I shall (/ʃal/) shall know (/noː/) know them (/ðɛm/) them by (/baɪ/) by instinct (/ˈɪnstɪŋkt/) instinct
72.28a The wise man findeth his fortune in contentment, not in birth. 72.28b The (/ðə/) the wise (/waɪz/) wise man (/man/) man findeth (/ˈfaɪndəθ/) find-3SG his (/hɪz/) his fortune (/ˈfɔːrtjuːn/) fortune in (/ɪn/) in contentment, (/kənˈtɛntmənt/) contentment not (/nɒt/) not in (/ɪn/) in birth (/bɛːrθ/) birth
72.29a Yet I would finde the truth, though all the world should turn against me. 72.29b Yet (/jɛt/) yet I (/aɪ/) I would (/wʊd/) would finde (/faɪnd/) find the (/ðə/) the truth, (/truːθ/) truth though (/ðoː/) though all (/ɔːl/) all the (/ðə/) the world (/wɛːrld/) world should (/ʃʊd/) should turn (/tɛːrn/) turn against (/əˈgɛːnst/) against me (/miː/) me
72.30a Go then, and may heaven grant thou finde what thy heart seeketh. 72.30b Go (/goː/) go-IMP then, (/ðɛn/) then and (/and/) and may (/mɛɪ/) may heaven (/ˈhɛvən/) heaven grant (/graːnt/) grant thou (/ðaʊ/) thou finde (/faɪnd/) find-SUBJ what (/hwat/) what thy (/ðaɪ/) thy heart (/haːrt/) heart seeketh (/ˈsiːkəθ/) seek-3SG
Part B: Natural Sentences
72.16 Margery, I have found it! The letter my father hid! “Margery, I have found it! The letter my father hid!”
72.17 What findest thou written therein, young master? “What do you find written there, young master?”
72.18 I finde here such strange information as doth confound me. “I find here such strange information as confounds me.”
72.19 Tell me, good nurse, for I finde myself most perplexed. “Tell me, good nurse, for I find myself most confused.”
72.20 My father’s letter speaks of a secret I never found till now. “My father’s letter speaks of a secret I never discovered until now.”
72.21 Alas, I feared this day would come when thou shouldst finde the truth. “Alas, I feared this day would come when you would find the truth.”
72.22 It says he found me as an infant abandon’d by the road. “It says he found me as an infant abandoned by the road.”
72.23 Then am I no true son of this house, but a foundling? “Then am I no true son of this house, but a foundling?”
72.24 Thou art found and loved, which is more than many born in silk can say. “You are found and loved, which is more than many born in silk can say.”
72.25 I must finde my true parents, whoever they may prove to be. “I must find my true parents, whoever they may prove to be.”
72.26 What if thou findest them base and poor? Wilt thou love them still? “What if you find them lowborn and poor? Will you still love them?”
72.27 Blood findeth blood, they say. I shall know them by instinct. “Blood finds blood, they say. I shall know them by instinct.”
72.28 The wise man findeth his fortune in contentment, not in birth. “The wise man finds his fortune in contentment, not in birth.”
72.29 Yet I would finde the truth, though all the world should turn against me. “Yet I would find the truth, though all the world should turn against me.”
72.30 Go then, and may heaven grant thou finde what thy heart seeketh. “Go then, and may heaven grant you find what your heart seeks.”
Part C: Elizabethan Text Only
72.16 Margery, I have found it! The letter my father hid!
72.17 What findest thou written therein, young master?
72.18 I finde here such strange information as doth confound me.
72.19 Tell me, good nurse, for I finde myself most perplexed.
72.20 My father’s letter speaks of a secret I never found till now.
72.21 Alas, I feared this day would come when thou shouldst finde the truth.
72.22 It says he found me as an infant abandon’d by the road.
72.23 Then am I no true son of this house, but a foundling?
72.24 Thou art found and loved, which is more than many born in silk can say.
72.25 I must finde my true parents, whoever they may prove to be.
72.26 What if thou findest them base and poor? Wilt thou love them still?
72.27 Blood findeth blood, they say. I shall know them by instinct.
72.28 The wise man findeth his fortune in contentment, not in birth.
72.29 Yet I would finde the truth, though all the world should turn against me.
72.30 Go then, and may heaven grant thou finde what thy heart seeketh.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This dramatic dialogue demonstrates several characteristic features of Elizabethan dramatic discourse. The discovery trope (the “foundling” revelation) drives the scene, making “find/found” thematically central.
Note the consistent use of the thou/thee forms between Edmund and Margery, appropriate to their relationship of young master and aged family retainer. Margery’s use of “thou” to Edmund shows both familiarity (she nursed him) and social deference (he remains “young master”).
The construction “as doth confound me” (72.18) shows the relative “as” with auxiliary “doth” — a pattern common in formal Elizabethan prose and dramatic verse. Modern English would prefer “that confounds me.”
The term “foundling” (72.23) derives directly from “found” — one who has been found, i.e., an abandoned child discovered and raised by others. This plays on the dual sense of “find” throughout the scene.
The subjunctive “thou finde” in line 72.30 (following “may heaven grant”) shows the use of the uninflected stem in subordinate clauses of wish or possibility — a pattern largely lost in Modern English.
The proverbial “Blood findeth blood” (72.27) reflects Elizabethan beliefs about kinship recognition, the idea that family members will instinctively recognize one another.
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Key Words from This Lesson:
finde /faɪnd/ — the diphthong is similar to modern “find” findest /ˈfaɪndɪst/ — stress on first syllable, “-est” is /ɪst/ findeth /ˈfaɪndəθ/ — stress on first syllable, “-eth” is /əθ/ found /faʊnd/ — past tense, similar to modern foundling /ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/ — one who is found, an abandoned child
Period Pronunciation Features:
The “-tion” suffix: Words like information, condition, perfection, satisfaction, occasion were pronounced with /sɪən/ (”see-on”) rather than modern /ʃən/ (”shun”): -
information /ɪnfɔːrˈmɛːsɪən/ -
condition /kənˈdɪsɪən/ -
perfection /pərˈfɛksɪən/ -
satisfaction /satɪsˈfaksɪən/ -
occasion /əˈkɛːzɪən/
The “wh-” cluster: Words like what, when, which, why began with /hw-/ not /w-/: -
what /hwat/ -
when /hwɛn/ -
which /hwɪtʃ/ -
why /hwaɪ/
Rhotic ‘r’: The letter ‘r’ was pronounced in all positions, giving words like “father,” “letter,” and “heart” a fuller sound: -
father /ˈfaːðər/ -
letter /ˈlɛtər/ -
heart /haːrt/
Common Errors to Avoid:
Pronouncing “findeth” as two syllables /faɪnθ/ — it has three syllables /ˈfaɪndəθ/
Using modern “-tion” pronunciation — remember /sɪən/ not /ʃən/
Dropping the ‘r’ in words like “perplexed” or “information” — maintain full rhoticity
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This Elizabethan English course follows the Latinum Institute methodology, developed since 2006 for autodidact language learners. The interlinear construed text format allows readers to process Early Modern English systematically, word by word, building comprehension through granular analysis rather than approximate translation.
Why Study Elizabethan English?
The language of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Jonson, and the King James Bible remains central to English literary heritage. Understanding Early Modern English pronunciation and grammar unlocks not merely comprehension but appreciation — hearing the puns, rhymes, and rhythms as original audiences did.
The Construed Text Method:
By presenting each word with its pronunciation and gloss, the construed text method allows the learner to build direct associations between Elizabethan forms and their meanings. This approach, proven effective for classical languages, works equally well for historical varieties of English that differ significantly from modern usage.
Original Pronunciation:
This course incorporates the latest scholarship on Original Pronunciation (OP), drawing on the work of David Crystal and other historical linguists. Hearing Shakespeare’s English as Shakespeare’s actors spoke it reveals wordplay, rhymes, and rhythmic effects invisible to modern readers.
Course Index:
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✓ Lesson 72 Elizabethan English complete
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