njoy the language! In a world
with no television, no radio, no recorded voice or music, talking afforded
the only communication and entertainment one would get in a day (aside from
drinking, dicing and rat-fights). Consequently the Elizabethans had a great
love of language and plenty of time to use it. You can achieve the same
effect with a few simple rules:
- Never say ok. Say Aye, Yay, Indeed, Tis well, It be the truth, etc. Never say ok. Never.
- Do not use contractions. Can't, don't, shouldn't, couldn't, won't, etc.
- Two words are better than one. Add "right", "well", and "most" to your speech.
- she doth wash right industrious.
- thou art most beauteous fair.
- i' faith thou dost sing most marvelous well.
- Add me after first-person verbs (and before think).
- Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed
- And yet methinks I should drink me an ale.
- I shall think me upon this matter.
- Likewise add thee/you after second-person verbs
- Now stand you on the top of happy hours!
- Although thou steal thee all my poverty...
- thee/thou/thy/thine is informal, use it with your intimates
- Thee is the object of a sentence.
- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
- Thou is the subject of a sentence.
- Indeed, thou mayest compare me.
- Thy/Thine is the possessive form (like a/an)
- Thine eyes shine as the moon and thy cheeks the dawns flush.
- you/your is formal, use it with your betters
- God keep you your Grace!
- Good Gentles, I bid you anon.
- my/mine is used like thy/thine, use the latter before a vowel
- Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain.