Hey i need help putting several lines of Romeo and Juliet from old english to modern english??

I dont understand how to do it so can you please paraphrase this from old english to modern english? Thnks so much!!! :)





O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.


She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes


In shape no bigger than an agate-stone


On the fore-finger of an alderman,


Drawn with a team of little atomies


Athwart men's noses as they lie asleep;


Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders' legs,


The cover of the wings of grasshoppers,


The traces of the smallest spider's web,


The collars of the moonshine's watery beams,


Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film,


Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,


Not so big as a round little worm


Prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid;


Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut


Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub,


Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers.

Hey i need help putting several lines of Romeo and Juliet from old english to modern english??
Queen Mab, the fairies' midwife, has been with you. She is tiny like the stone in the ring of a politician. She rides in a wagon drawn by tiny things and rides on men's noses as they lie asleep.





The wagon's wheels are made of spiders' legs, grasshoppers wings, spider's web, and moonbeams. Her whip is made from cricket's bone. Her driver is a small gray gnat. Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut.











Not nearly as nice and pretty sounding.
Reply:Are you sure it's the wagon that was all of those things or is it her? Report It

Reply:If I recall, this is where Mercutio is speaking to Romeo before they crash the Capulet party, correct?
Reply:First of all, Shakespeare is early Modern English, not "Old English". Secondly, look up words you don't know in a dictionary. You would be surprised how many students never use dictionaries as beneath them or some silly idea. Thirdly, use the book "Cliff Notes", little yellow books on Shakespeare and other classics that summarize classics.
Reply:i dont no but it sounds awesome
Reply:This is Mercutio's speech, and it is basically him fabricating a story to impress the others (Romeo, Benvolio, Balthazar) with his wordplay. He is also mocking Romeo during this speech, as he is not his usual self, due to the fact that Rosaline is not returning his love. Mercutio is saying that Romeo's dream, in the previous night is a result of Queen Mab visiting him.


There is really no modern translation for this section of speech from the play, as he is just telling a little story, and it is all straight-forward. You could try to look up translations and notes for this speech on google...I am sure there are many.





This is not about Romeo or Benvolio taking any drugs at all...that is just what they do in the movie before the speech.
Reply:Not directly the answer to this question but you should watch Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo Di Caprio. If shakespeare had lived now I am sure that is how he would have directed it.





The part you are talking about is just a whimsical bit about the Queen of the fairies and describing ad her car her car (chariot).





Quick paraphrase.


You have to get the picture in your mind of an olden day horse and carriage





I see queen mab has been with you


she is the fairies midwife and she is


no bigger than and adate stone


like you would see on the ring on and alderman's finger


little atoms pull her carriage


(do something) on mens noses as they (men) lie asleep.


The spokes are made of long spiders legs


the cover is made of grasshoppers wings


the traces of the smallest spiders web


collars of the moonshines water beams


whip o crickets bone, lash made of film


the driver is a small gnat wearing a grey coat


and no bigger than a little round work


pricked from the lazy finger of a young girl;


her chariot is an empty hazel nut


made by the joiner squirrel or old grub


time out of mind the fairies coachmakers.








notice each line has ten syllables. google iambic pentameter.
Reply:We did this last year in English...It's where Romeo takes the drug-thing right??...If so i think he is Hallucinating this 'Queen Mab' and It is pretty much a monolougue explaining her appearence and how evil she is (note the use of insects body parts used in her wagon)...I hope this helps!!!!