englishhobby
Key Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2009
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- Russian
- Home Country
- Russian Federation
- Current Location
- Russian Federation
Here's a piece of poetry (the author is Queen Elizabeth I). I'm trying to translate it into my language, but I am not sure I quite understand the meaning of the word "care" in context (see it in bold in the verse). Does it have to do with "being careful" or with "loving"? In other words, do you have the feeling that the person whom she loves is afraid to start a relationship (care = being cautious)? Or does he love her too (care = love)? I realize that it's not easy to interpret poetry, but even in poetry sometimes there are things obvious to most native speakers.
I grieve and dare not show my discontent,
I love and yet am forced to seem to hate,
I do, yet dare not say I ever meant,
I seem stark mute but inwardly do prate.
I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned,
Since from myself another self I turned.
My care is like my shadow in the sun,
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done.
His too familiar care:?: doth make me rue it.
No means I find to rid him from my breast,
Till by the end of things it be supprest.
I grieve and dare not show my discontent,
I love and yet am forced to seem to hate,
I do, yet dare not say I ever meant,
I seem stark mute but inwardly do prate.
I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned,
Since from myself another self I turned.
My care is like my shadow in the sun,
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done.
His too familiar care:?: doth make me rue it.
No means I find to rid him from my breast,
Till by the end of things it be supprest.
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