Speak like a Saxon: Happy Easter

Just a few days to go until Easter. There's no better time than Holy Week to have a go at some Old English Easter phrases:



þonc sie Gode for þissere Eastre*


[Thonk see-yuh Go-du for this-er-uh Ay-as-truh"]

Thanks be to God for this Easter

I reckon that just about counts for 'Happy Easter'...

And you should also have a go at one that's a bit longer; a couple of lines from the Dream of the Rood: 


Deað he þær byrigde; hwæðere eft Dryhten aras

mid his miclan mihte mannum to helpe.

["day-ath hay there boo-rig-du; hwath-er-uh eft Drich-ten ar-ras
mid his mitch-lan mich-tuh man-um toe help-uh"] 

He tasted death there [in the grave]; nevertheless, afterwards the Lord arose
to help mankind with his great might.

  





*Warning: the words are all pukka Old English but I made up the phrase.
 


 

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