I wold I had thy coilons in mind hond,/ insted of relics or of saintuarye!

[oloriel]

QotD:
(Middle English class; we're reading The Pardoner's Tale.
Text: And Jhesu Christ, that is our soules leeche,/ so graunte you His pardon to receive...)
Student: "So, I tried to look up 'leeche', and it told me that it's Modern English 'leech'. But a leech is a blood-sucking worm!"
Prof. Kohnen: *trying no to laugh* "... so you translated this as 'Jesus Christ, leech of our souls?"

Now of course, a leech is also a physician. Which is what was meant here. But, guh. I won't ever be able to forget the leech of my soul. Geoffrey Chaucer ruined church for me!

I love Middle English.

It's probably the only language where the first thing you learn are obscenities and curses.

[I particularly liked the part on swearing, though.
Lo, rather he forbedeth swich swering/ Than homicide, or many a cursed thing...

Fëa: ... so, the Oath was actually worse than the Kinslaying?
Me: ... according to the Ten Commandments, yes.
Fëa: ...... right.]

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Zitat des Tages:
(Mittelenglisch-Seminar; wir lesen The Pardoner's Tale.
Text: And Jhesu Christ, that is our soules leeche,/ so graunte you His pardon to receive...)
Studentin: "Also, ich hab 'leeche' nachgeschaut, und das ist ja im modernen Englisch 'leech'. Aber das heißt doch Blutegel!"
Prof. Kohnen: *versucht, ernst zu bleiben* "Haben Sie das jetzt mit 'Jesu Christ, Blutegel unserer Seelen' übersetzt?"

Natürlich kann 'leech' auch Bader bedeuten (der lässt einen ja auch zur Ader...), also letztlich Arzt. Was in diesem Zusammenhang wohl eher gemeint war. Aber den Blutegel meiner Seele werde ich nie mehr vergessen können. Geoffrey Chaucer hat mich auf ewig verdorben!

Ich liebe Mittelenglisch.

Vermutlich die einzige Sprache, wo das erste, was man lernt, Obszönitäten und Flüche sind.

[Und da war dann noch der Teil, wo es um Schwören und Fluchen ging.
Lo, rather he forbedeth swich swering/ Than homicide, or many a cursed thing...

Fëa: ... also, der Eid war schlimmer als der Sippenmord?
Ich: ... den zehn Geboten zufolge, ja.
Fëa: ....... toll.]



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Comments

[satismagic.livejournal.com]

Fëa: ...... right.

That's so typical for our sweetie... *snigger*

[furius.livejournal.com]

Hee, I should try that "leech of our souls" on someone. This is far too entertaining to left unused.

Fëa: ...... right.

XD Perhaps it's a cause and consquence thing...

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

*snrks* You should.

It probably is. *g*