Welcome to Lesson 77 of the Elizabethan English course. This lesson examines should, a modal auxiliary verb of supreme importance in Early Modern English, expressing obligation, probability, conditionality, and polite suggestion. In Shakespeare’s age, should performed duties now often divided between several constructions, making it a cornerstone of elegant Tudor speech.
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FAQ: What does “should” mean in Elizabethan English?
In Early Modern English (c. 1550–1650), should functions as the past tense of shall and serves multiple modal purposes: expressing moral obligation (”thou shouldst honour thy father”), probability or expectation (”he should arrive ere nightfall”), conditionality (”if thou shouldst fail”), and polite or tentative suggestion (”I should think it best”). Unlike modern usage, Elizabethan should frequently appears in that-clauses after verbs of command, request, and emotion, where contemporary English might use subjunctive or indicative forms.
In this lesson, you will encounter should in fifteen diverse sentences demonstrating its grammatical flexibility, followed by fifteen additional examples in a dramatic dialogue befitting the theatrical conventions of the Globe.
Key Takeaways -
Should expresses obligation weaker than must but stronger than might -
Period pronunciation reflects Early Modern phonology, including the /sjən/ pronunciation of -tion endings -
Shouldst and shouldest are forms used with thou (second person singular informal) -
Should frequently pairs with perfect infinitives (should have done) -
Conditional and subjunctive uses of should pervade Elizabethan prose and verse
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General Principles of Early Modern English Phonology
Elizabethan pronunciation differs substantially from modern Received Pronunciation. The Great Vowel Shift was still in progress, yielding sounds intermediate between Middle English and contemporary speech.
Key Pronunciation Features
Consonants: -
kn- pronounced /kn/ (not modern /n/): knight = /kniːt/ -
gn- pronounced /gn/: gnaw = /gnɔː/ -
wr- pronounced /wr/: write = /wriːt/ -
-tion pronounced /sjən/ (not modern /ʃən/): nation = /ˈneɪ.sjən/ -
r is rhotic (always pronounced), often trilled or tapped
Vowels: -
Long a in name = /nɛːm/ (more open than modern) -
Long i in life = /ləif/ transitioning toward /laɪf/ -
Long u in house = /huːs/ transitioning toward /haʊs/ -
oo in blood sometimes rhymed with good
For “should”: -
Elizabethan: /ʃuld/ or /ʃʊld/ -
The vowel remained relatively stable through the Great Vowel Shift
Pronoun Forms with “Should”
I should, thou shouldst/shouldest, he/she/it should, we should, ye should, they should
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77.1a Thou shouldst obey thy father in all things.
77.1b Thou /ðaʊ/ thou-NOM.SG shouldst /ʃʊldst/ should-2SG obey /əˈbeɪ/ obey-INF thy /ðaɪ/ thy-POSS father /ˈfɑː.ðər/ father-ACC in /ɪn/ in-PREP all /ɔːl/ all-DET things /θɪŋgz/ thing-PL
77.2a The king should receive these tidings ere sundown.
77.2b The /ðə/ the-ART king /kɪŋg/ king-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD receive /rɪˈsiːv/ receive-INF these /ðiːz/ these-DEM tidings /ˈtaɪ.dɪŋgz/ tiding-PL ere /ɛːr/ before-CONJ sundown /ˈsʌn.daʊn/ sundown-ACC
77.3a What should I say to such accusation?
77.3b What /hwɑːt/ what-INTERROG should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD I /aɪ/ I-NOM say /seɪ/ say-INF to /tuː/ to-PREP such /sʌtʃ/ such-DET accusation /ˌak.ju.ˈzeɪ.sjən/ accusation-DAT
77.4a If he should fail, all our hopes perish.
77.4b If /ɪf/ if-CONJ he /hiː/ he-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD fail /feɪl/ fail-INF all /ɔːl/ all-DET our /aʊr/ our-POSS hopes /hoːps/ hope-PL perish /ˈpe.rɪʃ/ perish-3PL
77.5a The villain should have suffered for his treachery.
77.5b The /ðə/ the-ART villain /ˈvɪ.lən/ villain-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD have /hav/ have-AUX suffered /ˈsʌ.fərd/ suffer-PTCP for /fɔːr/ for-PREP his /hɪz/ his-POSS treachery /ˈtre.tʃə.ri/ treachery-ACC
77.6a She should be sixteen years of age this midsummer.
77.6b She /ʃiː/ she-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD be /biː/ be-INF sixteen /sɪkˈstiːn/ sixteen-NUM years /jɪːrz/ year-PL of /ɒv/ of-PREP age /eɪdʒ/ age-GEN this /ðɪs/ this-DET midsummer /ˈmɪd.sʌ.mər/ midsummer-ACC
77.7a I should think it strange if thou refusest.
77.7b I /aɪ/ I-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD think /θɪŋk/ think-INF it /ɪt/ it-ACC strange /streɪndʒ/ strange-ADJ if /ɪf/ if-CONJ thou /ðaʊ/ thou-NOM refusest /rɪˈfjuː.zɪst/ refuse-2SG.PRES
77.8a They should not tarry where danger lurketh.
77.8b They /ðeɪ/ they-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD not /nɒt/ not-NEG tarry /ˈta.ri/ tarry-INF where /hwɛːr/ where-ADV danger /ˈdeɪn.dʒər/ danger-NOM lurketh /ˈlʌr.kɪθ/ lurk-3SG.PRES
77.9a That we should meet thus seemeth fate’s design.
77.9b That /ðat/ that-CONJ we /wiː/ we-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD meet /miːt/ meet-INF thus /ðʌs/ thus-ADV seemeth /ˈsiː.mɪθ/ seem-3SG fate’s /feɪts/ fate-POSS design /dɪˈzaɪn/ design-NOM
77.10a Shouldst thou desire instruction, seek the scholar.
77.10b Shouldst /ʃʊldst/ should-2SG thou /ðaʊ/ thou-NOM desire /dɪˈzaɪr/ desire-INF instruction /ɪnˈstrʌk.sjən/ instruction-ACC seek /siːk/ seek-IMP the /ðə/ the-ART scholar /ˈskɒ.lər/ scholar-ACC
77.11a The messenger should have arrived three days past.
77.11b The /ðə/ the-ART messenger /ˈme.sɪn.dʒər/ messenger-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD have /hav/ have-AUX arrived /əˈraɪvd/ arrive-PTCP three /θriː/ three-NUM days /deɪz/ day-PL past /pɑːst/ past-ADV
77.12a He commanded that no man should enter.
77.12b He /hiː/ he-NOM commanded /kəˈmɑːn.dɪd/ command-PAST that /ðat/ that-CONJ no /noː/ no-DET man /man/ man-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD enter /ˈen.tər/ enter-INF
77.13a A gentleman should keep his word inviolate.
77.13b A /ə/ a-ART gentleman /ˈdʒen.tl̩.man/ gentleman-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD keep /kiːp/ keep-INF his /hɪz/ his-POSS word /wʌrd/ word-ACC inviolate /ɪnˈvaɪ.ə.lət/ inviolate-ADJ
77.14a Why should they fear when innocence protecteth?
77.14b Why /hwaɪ/ why-INTERROG should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD they /ðeɪ/ they-NOM fear /fɪːr/ fear-INF when /hwen/ when-CONJ innocence /ˈɪ.nə.səns/ innocence-NOM protecteth /prəˈtek.tɪθ/ protect-3SG.PRES
77.15a The queen decreed that celebration should commence.
77.15b The /ðə/ the-ART queen /kwiːn/ queen-NOM decreed /dɪˈkriːd/ decree-PAST that /ðat/ that-CONJ celebration /ˌse.lɪˈbreɪ.sjən/ celebration-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD commence /kəˈmens/ commence-INF
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77.1 Thou shouldst obey thy father in all things. “You should obey your father in all matters.”
77.2 The king should receive these tidings ere sundown. “The king ought to receive this news before sundown.”
77.3 What should I say to such accusation? “What can I possibly say to such an accusation?”
77.4 If he should fail, all our hopes perish. “If he were to fail, all our hopes would perish.”
77.5 The villain should have suffered for his treachery. “The villain ought to have suffered for his treachery.”
77.6 She should be sixteen years of age this midsummer. “She will probably be sixteen years old this midsummer.”
77.7 I should think it strange if thou refusest. “I would think it strange if you were to refuse.”
77.8 They should not tarry where danger lurketh. “They ought not to linger where danger lurks.”
77.9 That we should meet thus seemeth fate’s design. “That we should meet in this way seems to be fate’s design.”
77.10 Shouldst thou desire instruction, seek the scholar. “Should you desire instruction, seek out the scholar.”
77.11 The messenger should have arrived three days past. “The messenger ought to have arrived three days ago.”
77.12 He commanded that no man should enter. “He commanded that no man was to enter.”
77.13 A gentleman should keep his word inviolate. “A gentleman ought to keep his word sacred.”
77.14 Why should they fear when innocence protecteth? “Why should they fear when innocence protects them?”
77.15 The queen decreed that celebration should commence. “The queen decreed that the celebration was to begin.”
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77.1 Thou shouldst obey thy father in all things.
77.2 The king should receive these tidings ere sundown.
77.3 What should I say to such accusation?
77.4 If he should fail, all our hopes perish.
77.5 The villain should have suffered for his treachery.
77.6 She should be sixteen years of age this midsummer.
77.7 I should think it strange if thou refusest.
77.8 They should not tarry where danger lurketh.
77.9 That we should meet thus seemeth fate’s design.
77.10 Shouldst thou desire instruction, seek the scholar.
77.11 The messenger should have arrived three days past.
77.12 He commanded that no man should enter.
77.13 A gentleman should keep his word inviolate.
77.14 Why should they fear when innocence protecteth?
77.15 The queen decreed that celebration should commence.
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These are the grammar rules for “should” in Elizabethan English.
1. Basic Function
Should functions as the past tense of the modal verb shall and as an independent modal expressing obligation, probability, or conditionality. Unlike modern English, Elizabethan should frequently appears in subordinate clauses where contemporary speakers might use other constructions.
2. Conjugation with Personal Pronouns
First person singular: I should /aɪ ʃʊld/ Second person singular (informal): thou shouldst /ðaʊ ʃʊldst/ or thou shouldest /ðaʊ ˈʃʊl.dɪst/ Third person singular: he/she/it should /hiː ʃʊld/ First person plural: we should /wiː ʃʊld/ Second person plural or formal singular: ye/you should /jiː ʃʊld/ Third person plural: they should /ðeɪ ʃʊld/
The form shouldst attaches directly to thou, while the longer shouldest appears occasionally in verse or formal prose for metrical reasons.
3. Semantic Functions
Obligation (weaker than must): “A gentleman should keep his word” — expressing moral duty or expected behaviour.
Probability or expectation: “She should be sixteen years of age” — indicating what is likely or expected to be true.
Conditionality: “If he should fail” — introducing a conditional or hypothetical scenario, often equivalent to “were to.”
Tentative suggestion: “I should think it strange” — softening an assertion or opinion.
Mandative clauses: “He commanded that no man should enter” — following verbs of command, request, or decree, where modern English might use a bare infinitive or that-clause with indicative.
4. Perfect Infinitive Constructions
Should have + past participle expresses unrealized obligation or expectation in the past:
“The messenger should have arrived” — the messenger was expected to arrive but (apparently) did not. “The villain should have suffered” — the villain deserved punishment but (perhaps) escaped it.
5. Interrogative and Negative Forms
Questions invert subject and modal: “Shouldst thou desire...?” “What should I say?” Negation places not after the modal: “They should not tarry”
6. Common Mistakes for Modern Learners
Forgetting the -st/-est ending with thou: Incorrect “thou should” → Correct “thou shouldst” Confusing conditional should with obligation should: Context determines meaning Over-pronouncing: Elizabethan should maintains /ʊ/, not diphthongized
7. The -tion Pronunciation
In words like accusation, instruction, celebration, the -tion suffix was pronounced /sjən/ in Elizabethan times, not the modern /ʃən/. Thus: -
accusation: /ˌak.ju.ˈzeɪ.sjən/ -
instruction: /ɪnˈstrʌk.sjən/ -
celebration: /ˌse.lɪˈbreɪ.sjən/
This pronunciation derives from the Old French /sjon/, which had not yet fully coalesced to /ʃ/ through yod-coalescence.
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Thou and You: Social Dynamics
When using should with second-person pronouns, Elizabethan speakers navigated complex social territory. Thou shouldst (with its intimate or inferior-addressing thou) implied familiarity, affection, or occasionally contempt. Parents might say “thou shouldst” to children; lovers to one another; masters to servants. The formal you should marked respect, distance, or equality among gentlefolk.
Obligation and Honour
The phrase “a gentleman should” carried tremendous weight in Tudor society. To say what a gentleman should do invoked an entire code of honour, comportment, and class expectation. Failing what one should do risked not merely disapproval but social death.
Theatrical Usage
On the Elizabethan stage, should frequently signals dramatic irony or foreshadowing. When a character says “if he should fail,” the audience often knows that failure is imminent. Conditional should creates suspense and anticipation.
Regional Variation
While London usage standardized many grammatical forms through printing, provincial dialects retained variations. Northern speakers sometimes preserved older forms or exhibited different vowel qualities in should. However, the prestige of court and stage promoted the London standard.
Mandative Should
The construction “he commanded that X should do” persisted longer in English than in some continental languages and remains in formal British English today. This “mandative should” reflects the persistence of subjunctive-like constructions expressing commands, wishes, or necessity.
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From William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3 (c. 1600)
Polonius advises his son Laertes before the young man’s departure for France.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Give /gɪv/ give-IMP every /ˈev.ri/ every-DET man /man/ man-DAT thy /ðaɪ/ thy-POSS ear /ɪːr/ ear-ACC but /bʌt/ but-CONJ few /fjuː/ few-DET thy /ðaɪ/ thy-POSS voice /vɔɪs/ voice-ACC
Take /teɪk/ take-IMP each /iːtʃ/ each-DET man’s /manz/ man-POSS censure /ˈsen.sjʊr/ censure-ACC but /bʌt/ but-CONJ reserve /rɪˈzɜːrv/ reserve-IMP thy /ðaɪ/ thy-POSS judgment /ˈdʒʌdʒ.mənt/ judgment-ACC
Costly /ˈkɒst.li/ costly-ADJ thy /ðaɪ/ thy-POSS habit /ˈha.bɪt/ habit-NOM as /az/ as-CONJ thy /ðaɪ/ thy-POSS purse /pʌrs/ purse-NOM can /kan/ can-MOD buy /baɪ/ buy-INF
But /bʌt/ but-CONJ not /nɒt/ not-NEG expressed /ɪkˈsprest/ express-PTCP in /ɪn/ in-PREP fancy /ˈfan.si/ fancy-ACC
Neither /ˈnɪː.ðər/ neither-CONJ a /ə/ a-ART borrower /ˈbɒ.roʊ.ər/ borrower-NOM nor /nɔːr/ nor-CONJ a /ə/ a-ART lender /ˈlen.dər/ lender-NOM be /biː/ be-IMP
For /fɔːr/ for-CONJ loan /loːn/ loan-NOM oft /ɒft/ oft-ADV loseth /ˈluː.zɪθ/ lose-3SG both /boːθ/ both-DET itself /ɪtˈself/ itself-REFL and /and/ and-CONJ friend /frend/ friend-ACC
This /ðɪs/ this-DET above /əˈbʌv/ above-PREP all /ɔːl/ all-DET to /tuː/ to-PREP thine /ðaɪn/ thine-POSS own /oːn/ own-ADJ self /self/ self-DAT be /biː/ be-IMP true /truː/ true-ADJ
And /and/ and-CONJ it /ɪt/ it-NOM must /mʌst/ must-MOD follow /ˈfɒ.loʊ/ follow-INF as /az/ as-CONJ the /ðə/ the-ART night /niːt/ night-NOM the /ðə/ the-ART day /deɪ/ day-ACC
Thou /ðaʊ/ thou-NOM canst /kanst/ can-2SG not /nɒt/ not-NEG then /ðen/ then-ADV be /biː/ be-INF false /fɔːls/ false-ADJ to /tuː/ to-PREP any /ˈe.ni/ any-DET man /man/ man-DAT
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy; Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loseth both itself and friend. This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.
“Listen to every man, but speak to few; consider each man’s criticism, but keep your own judgment. Let your clothing be as expensive as your purse allows, but not flashy—rich, not gaudy. Be neither a borrower nor a lender, for a loan often loses both itself and the friend. Above all else: be true to yourself, and it must follow, as night follows day, that you cannot then be false to any man.”
F-C: Authentic Text Only
Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy; Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loseth both itself and friend. This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
Though this passage uses must and canst rather than should, it illustrates the broader modal system in which should participates. Polonius’s advice expresses what Laertes should do, though framed through imperatives and other modals. -
censure /ˈsen.sjʊr/: judgment, opinion (not necessarily negative in this period) -
habit: clothing, attire -
expressed in fancy: made ostentatious -
loseth: third person singular present with -eth ending -
thine own self: emphatic possessive before vowel
The -eth endings (loseth) reflect the coexistence of older and newer verb forms; Shakespeare uses both -eth and -es freely.
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A confrontation between Lord Ashworth and his daughter Eleanor regarding her secret betrothal
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
77.16a ASHWORTH: Daughter, thou shouldst have told me of this matter.
77.16b Daughter /ˈdɔː.tər/ daughter-VOC thou /ðaʊ/ thou-NOM shouldst /ʃʊldst/ should-2SG have /hav/ have-AUX told /toːld/ tell-PTCP me /miː/ me-DAT of /ɒv/ of-PREP this /ðɪs/ this-DET matter /ˈma.tər/ matter-GEN
77.17a ELEANOR: I feared thy wrath, and should I not have cause?
77.17b I /aɪ/ I-NOM feared /fɪːrd/ fear-PAST thy /ðaɪ/ thy-POSS wrath /rɔːθ/ wrath-ACC and /and/ and-CONJ should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD I /aɪ/ I-NOM not /nɒt/ not-NEG have /hav/ have-INF cause /kɔːz/ cause-ACC
77.18a ASHWORTH: What cause? Should any child fear honest counsel?
77.18b What /hwɑːt/ what-INTERROG cause /kɔːz/ cause-NOM Should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD any /ˈe.ni/ any-DET child /tʃaɪld/ child-NOM fear /fɪːr/ fear-INF honest /ˈɒ.nɪst/ honest-ADJ counsel /ˈkaʊn.səl/ counsel-ACC
77.19a ELEANOR: Should counsel come with threats of disinheritance?
77.19b Should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD counsel /ˈkaʊn.səl/ counsel-NOM come /kʌm/ come-INF with /wɪθ/ with-PREP threats /θrets/ threat-PL of /ɒv/ of-PREP disinheritance /ˌdɪs.ɪnˈhe.rɪ.təns/ disinheritance-GEN
77.20a ASHWORTH: Thou shouldst not have betrayed our family’s trust.
77.20b Thou /ðaʊ/ thou-NOM shouldst /ʃʊldst/ should-2SG not /nɒt/ not-NEG have /hav/ have-AUX betrayed /bɪˈtreɪd/ betray-PTCP our /aʊr/ our-POSS family’s /ˈfa.mɪ.liz/ family-POSS trust /trʌst/ trust-ACC
77.21a ELEANOR: Should love be counted treachery in this household?
77.21b Should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD love /lʌv/ love-NOM be /biː/ be-INF counted /ˈkaʊn.tɪd/ count-PTCP treachery /ˈtre.tʃə.ri/ treachery-NOM in /ɪn/ in-PREP this /ðɪs/ this-DET household /ˈhaʊs.hoːld/ household-LOC
77.22a ASHWORTH: The match is unsuitable; thou shouldst know this.
77.22b The /ðə/ the-ART match /matʃ/ match-NOM is /ɪz/ be-3SG unsuitable /ʌnˈsjuː.tə.bl̩/ unsuitable-ADJ thou /ðaʊ/ thou-NOM shouldst /ʃʊldst/ should-2SG know /noː/ know-INF this /ðɪs/ this-ACC
77.23a ELEANOR: Should station matter more than virtue or affection?
77.23b Should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD station /ˈsteɪ.sjən/ station-NOM matter /ˈma.tər/ matter-INF more /mɔːr/ more-ADV than /ðan/ than-CONJ virtue /ˈvɜːr.tjuː/ virtue-NOM or /ɔːr/ or-CONJ affection /əˈfek.sjən/ affection-NOM
77.24a ASHWORTH: A daughter should respect her father’s wisdom.
77.24b A /ə/ a-ART daughter /ˈdɔː.tər/ daughter-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD respect /rɪˈspekt/ respect-INF her /hɜːr/ her-POSS father’s /ˈfɑː.ðərz/ father-POSS wisdom /ˈwɪz.dəm/ wisdom-ACC
77.25a ELEANOR: And should a father not hearken to his daughter’s heart?
77.25b And /and/ and-CONJ should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD a /ə/ a-ART father /ˈfɑː.ðər/ father-NOM not /nɒt/ not-NEG hearken /ˈhɑːr.kən/ hearken-INF to /tuː/ to-PREP his /hɪz/ his-POSS daughter’s /ˈdɔː.tərz/ daughter-POSS heart /hɑːrt/ heart-DAT
77.26a ASHWORTH: If I should consent, what assurance have I?
77.26b If /ɪf/ if-CONJ I /aɪ/ I-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD consent /kənˈsent/ consent-INF what /hwɑːt/ what-INTERROG assurance /əˈʃʊr.əns/ assurance-ACC have /hav/ have-1SG I /aɪ/ I-NOM
77.27a ELEANOR: That he should prove worthy of thy good opinion.
77.27b That /ðat/ that-CONJ he /hiː/ he-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD prove /pruːv/ prove-INF worthy /ˈwʌr.ði/ worthy-ADJ of /ɒv/ of-PREP thy /ðaɪ/ thy-POSS good /guːd/ good-ADJ opinion /əˈpɪn.jən/ opinion-GEN
77.28a ASHWORTH: Should he fail this trial, the betrothal ends.
77.28b Should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD he /hiː/ he-NOM fail /feɪl/ fail-INF this /ðɪs/ this-DET trial /ˈtraɪ.əl/ trial-ACC the /ðə/ the-ART betrothal /bɪˈtroː.θəl/ betrothal-NOM ends /endz/ end-3SG
77.29a ELEANOR: It shall be as thou sayest; he should not disappoint.
77.29b It /ɪt/ it-NOM shall /ʃal/ shall-MOD be /biː/ be-INF as /az/ as-CONJ thou /ðaʊ/ thou-NOM sayest /ˈseɪ.ɪst/ say-2SG he /hiː/ he-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD not /nɒt/ not-NEG disappoint /ˌdɪs.əˈpɔɪnt/ disappoint-INF
77.30a ASHWORTH: Then let it be resolved; time should reveal all truth.
77.30b Then /ðen/ then-ADV let /let/ let-IMP it /ɪt/ it-ACC be /biː/ be-INF resolved /rɪˈzɒlvd/ resolve-PTCP time /taɪm/ time-NOM should /ʃʊld/ should-MOD reveal /rɪˈviːl/ reveal-INF all /ɔːl/ all-DET truth /truːθ/ truth-ACC
Part B: Natural Sentences
77.16 ASHWORTH: Daughter, thou shouldst have told me of this matter. “Daughter, you should have told me about this matter.”
77.17 ELEANOR: I feared thy wrath, and should I not have cause? “I feared your anger—and should I not have reason to?”
77.18 ASHWORTH: What cause? Should any child fear honest counsel? “What reason? Should any child fear honest advice?”
77.19 ELEANOR: Should counsel come with threats of disinheritance? “Should advice come accompanied by threats of being disowned?”
77.20 ASHWORTH: Thou shouldst not have betrayed our family’s trust. “You should not have betrayed our family’s trust.”
77.21 ELEANOR: Should love be counted treachery in this household? “Should love be considered treachery in this house?”
77.22 ASHWORTH: The match is unsuitable; thou shouldst know this. “The match is inappropriate; you should know this.”
77.23 ELEANOR: Should station matter more than virtue or affection? “Should social rank matter more than virtue or love?”
77.24 ASHWORTH: A daughter should respect her father’s wisdom. “A daughter ought to respect her father’s wisdom.”
77.25 ELEANOR: And should a father not hearken to his daughter’s heart? “And should a father not listen to his daughter’s heart?”
77.26 ASHWORTH: If I should consent, what assurance have I? “If I were to consent, what guarantee would I have?”
77.27 ELEANOR: That he should prove worthy of thy good opinion. “That he shall prove himself worthy of your good opinion.”
77.28 ASHWORTH: Should he fail this trial, the betrothal ends. “If he fails this test, the engagement ends.”
77.29 ELEANOR: It shall be as thou sayest; he should not disappoint. “It shall be as you say; he should not disappoint.”
77.30 ASHWORTH: Then let it be resolved; time should reveal all truth. “Then let it be settled; time should reveal all truth.”
Part C: Elizabethan Text Only
77.16 ASHWORTH: Daughter, thou shouldst have told me of this matter.
77.17 ELEANOR: I feared thy wrath, and should I not have cause?
77.18 ASHWORTH: What cause? Should any child fear honest counsel?
77.19 ELEANOR: Should counsel come with threats of disinheritance?
77.20 ASHWORTH: Thou shouldst not have betrayed our family’s trust.
77.21 ELEANOR: Should love be counted treachery in this household?
77.22 ASHWORTH: The match is unsuitable; thou shouldst know this.
77.23 ELEANOR: Should station matter more than virtue or affection?
77.24 ASHWORTH: A daughter should respect her father’s wisdom.
77.25 ELEANOR: And should a father not hearken to his daughter’s heart?
77.26 ASHWORTH: If I should consent, what assurance have I?
77.27 ELEANOR: That he should prove worthy of thy good opinion.
77.28 ASHWORTH: Should he fail this trial, the betrothal ends.
77.29 ELEANOR: It shall be as thou sayest; he should not disappoint.
77.30 ASHWORTH: Then let it be resolved; time should reveal all truth.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This dialogue showcases multiple functions of should in dramatic confrontation:
Obligation (unfulfilled): “Thou shouldst have told me” — past obligation that was not met
Rhetorical questions: “Should I not have cause?” — using should to argue that something is reasonable
Conditional/hypothetical: “If I should consent” — tentative willingness dependent on conditions
Expectation: “He should not disappoint” — expressing confidence in future behaviour
Future determination: “Time should reveal” — prediction or expectation about what will happen
The dialogue also demonstrates the thou/you distinction: Ashworth uses thou to his daughter (intimate, parental authority), while both discuss the absent suitor with he (third person).
Note the Elizabethan pronunciation of: -
station /ˈsteɪ.sjən/ — with /sj/ not /ʃ/ -
affection /əˈfek.sjən/ — likewise with /sj/ -
opinion /əˈpɪn.jən/ — with clear /j/ -
assurance /əˈʃʊr.əns/ — already shifted to /ʃ/ in this position
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Key Words with Period Pronunciation -
should /ʃʊld/ -
shouldst /ʃʊldst/ -
accusation /ˌak.ju.ˈzeɪ.sjən/ -
instruction /ɪnˈstrʌk.sjən/ -
celebration /ˌse.lɪˈbreɪ.sjən/ -
station /ˈsteɪ.sjən/ -
affection /əˈfek.sjən/ -
disinheritance /ˌdɪs.ɪnˈhe.rɪ.təns/ -
wrath /rɔːθ/ -
hearken /ˈhɑːr.kən/
The -tion Suffix in Detail
Modern English pronounces -tion as /ʃən/, but Early Modern English retained /sjən/ from the Old French /sjon/. This yod-coalescence (the blending of /s/ + /j/ into /ʃ/) was ongoing during Shakespeare’s lifetime but incomplete. Actors performing in “Original Pronunciation” productions often use /sjən/ to recreate the authentic Elizabethan soundscape.
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This lesson belongs to the Elizabethan English series produced by the Latinum Institute, which has been creating language learning materials for autodidacts since 2006. The Institute’s methodology emphasizes construed text presentation, where each word receives individual glossing with pronunciation guidance, enabling learners to absorb grammar and vocabulary simultaneously.
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
Student Reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
The interlinear format employed throughout this lesson derives from centuries-old pedagogical tradition, particularly the Hamilton method and various construed text approaches used to teach Latin and Greek. By presenting each word with its pronunciation, grammatical function, and meaning, learners develop intuitive comprehension without relying on rote memorization of rules.
Elizabethan English, though technically Modern English, presents sufficient differences from contemporary usage to benefit from systematic study. The modal verb should, with its various functions and its distinctive second-person singular forms, exemplifies these differences while remaining relevant to understanding Shakespeare, the King James Bible, and other foundational English texts.
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✓ Lesson 77 Elizabethan English complete
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