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-   -   Staid, bedmen, bores, some doubts (https://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=5511)

Staid, bedmen, bores, some doubts


ookami September 24, 2009 09:51 PM

Staid, bedmen, bores, some doubts
 
This ploughman dead in battle slept out of doors
Many's a frozen night, and merrily
Answered staid drinkers, good bedmen, and all bores:



Hello. I'm here again :rolleyes: Well, let's see:
1- I just can't understand Many's and how it conects with the previous and fordward expressions.
2- staid drinkers: bebedores serios?
3- bedmen: ???
4- bores: melosos/cargosos would be a good translation here?

Well, in general, if you can translate that three sentences you would do me a big favour.

Thanks in advance.

bobjenkins September 24, 2009 10:07 PM

Me parece ser un poema , no? Porque "many a night" no es común aquí, se lo usa más en los poemas que en la palabra hablada.

Many a night / Often I have stayed up late trying to learn Spanish

No estoy seguro de lo que las otras palabras significan, más contexto me puede ayudarme:), pero en la fin creo que hay muchas traducciones a ese poema, como todos:)

pjt33 September 25, 2009 01:33 AM

"Many a frozen night" - muchas noches heladas. "Many's" podría ser un error o tal vez una variación dialéctica.

"Staid drinkers" - si, pero en el sentido de que son personas serias y sobrías que toman una cerveza, no en el sentido de que toman muy en serio el beber.

"Good bedmen" - no sé. Igual es una palabra que era común entonces pero ya ha muerto. Del contexto adivinaré que sería "Aficionados de buenas camas" que no pueden entender como alguien podría dormir bajo un arbusto.

Bores - personas aburridas, pesadas.

ookami September 25, 2009 08:33 AM

Ahh "Many a frozen night" would be, that's a little more clear, I couldn't understand the 's. Equally, the "a" makes it sound wear to me, it's the same if it's not there right?

I think now I understand it better, the "many's" thing was the main problem. The poem:

A Private

This ploughman dead in battle slept out of doors
Many's a frozen night, and merrily
Answered staid drinkers, good bedmen, and all bores:
'At Mrs Greenland's Hawthorn Bush,' said he,
'I slept.' None knew which bush. Above the town,
Beyond 'The Drover', a hundred spot the down
In Wiltshire. And where now at last he sleeps
More sound in France – that, too, he secret keeps.


by Edward Thomas

I don't know if analazing poems - that aren't contemporary- it's a good way to learn, but contemporay authors aren't my best friends, I can't find poems I like.
Some authors you recommend?

bobjenkins September 25, 2009 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ookami (Post 53417)
Ahh "Many a frozen night" would be, that's a little more clear, I couldn't understand the 's. Equally, the "a" makes it sound wear to me, it's the same if it's not there right?

I think now I understand it better, the "many's" thing was the main problem. The poem:

A Private

This ploughman dead in battle slept out of doors
Many's a frozen night, and merrily
Answered staid drinkers, good bedmen, and all bores:
'At Mrs Greenland's Hawthorn Bush,' said he,
'I slept.' None knew which bush. Above the town,
Beyond 'The Drover', a hundred spot the down
In Wiltshire. And where now at last he sleeps
More sound in France – that, too, he secret keeps.


by Edward Thomas

I don't know if analazing poems - that aren't contemporary- it's a good way to learn, but contemporay authors aren't my best friends, I can't find poems I like.
Some authors you recommend?

Robert Frost es bueno:)

ookami September 25, 2009 08:47 AM

Thanks bob; I know just a punch of English authors and you just say one of those :lol:
I use his poems to practice pronunciation:D

* And you just say one of those - Y vos justo decis uno de esos ?

Tomisimo September 25, 2009 09:24 AM

Many's a frozen night = many is a frozen night = muchas de las noches son heladas.

pjt33 September 25, 2009 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ookami (Post 53417)
Ahh "Many a frozen night" would be, that's a little more clear, I couldn't understand the 's. Equally, the "a" makes it sound wear to me, it's the same if it's not there right?

I've slept out of doors on many a frozen night. :good: :thumbsup:
Many's the frozen night I've slept out of doors. :good:
I've slept out of doors on many frozen nights. :good:
Many a frozen night I've slept out of doors. :thinking:
Many frozen nights I've slept out of doors. :thinking:
Many's a frozen night I've slept out of doors. :thumbsdown:
Many frozen night I've slept out of doors. :thumbsdown:


Quote:

I don't know if analazing poems - that aren't contemporary- it's a good way to learn, but contemporay authors aren't my best friends, I can't find poems I like.
Some authors you recommend?
Poetry is a good way to stretch yourself.

Keats.

hermit September 25, 2009 01:06 PM

another english poet to recommend for those studying esl - Blake - "Songs of Innocence", and "Songs of Experience" -
basic vocabulary, delightful poetry.

hermit

ookami September 25, 2009 10:13 PM

Thanks for the recomendations.

pjt33 can you tell me the difference(maybe by translation to Spanish) between these two:
- I've slept out of doors on many a frozen night.
- I've slept out of doors on many frozen nights.

I'm having trouble finding what the "a" changes.
Thanks

pjt33 September 26, 2009 04:27 AM

Singular vs plural, y es más poético. "Many a" pone el énfasis en "many".

Según un diccionario que acabo de consultar,

many
1. a number of people or things, esp. a large one: his many supporters, have as many as you want
2. many a each of a considerable number of: many a man

ookami September 26, 2009 11:19 AM

I think I catch it know. The translatiion of those two sentences I think that can be the same, but if you want to remark the difference, is this right?:

- I've slept out of doors on many a frozen night.
He dormido a puertas abiertas en cada una de las/entre muchas noches heladas.

- I've slept out of doors on many frozen nights.

He dormido a puertas abiertas en muchas noches heladas.

Thanks pjt33

pjt33 September 26, 2009 11:33 AM

Decir "en cada una" me parece que da un poco demasiado énfasis.

On many a: Son muchas las noches heladas en las que he dormido bajo las estrellas.
On many: He dormido bajo las estrellas en muchas noches heladas.

ookami September 26, 2009 11:39 AM

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: crystal clear.
Thank you a lot.

brute September 26, 2009 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ookami (Post 53525)
Thanks for the recomendations.

pjt33 can you tell me the difference(maybe by translation to Spanish) between these two:
- I've slept out of doors on many a frozen night.
- I've slept out of doors on many frozen nights.
I'm having trouble finding what the "a" changes.
Thanks

Many a frozen night:good:
Many's the frozen night works well in modern English.:good:
= many is the frozen night {that):good:
Many's a frozen night:?: May be old dialect, poetic licence or spelling error


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