i need help translating this poem into modern english.
it is by John Donne
I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I
Did, till we loved?were we not weaned till then,
But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seven sleepers' den?
Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desired, and got, 'twas but a dream of thee.
And now good morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room an everywhere.
Let sea discovers to new worlds have gone,
Let maps to others, worlds on worlds have shown:
Let us possess one world; each hath one, and is one.
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemishperes,
Without sharp North, without declining West?
Whatever dies was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or thou and I
Love so alike that none do slacken, none can die.
Sure! I can help you translate the poem into modern English. Here's my interpretation:
I wonder, honestly, what you and I
Did before we fell in love? Were we not independent until then,
But instead engrossed in innocent pleasures?
Or did we slumber together like the seven sleepers?
It was so; but all those pleasures were just fantasies.
If I ever saw any beauty
that I desired and obtained, it was merely a dream of you.
And now, good morning to our awakened souls,
Which don't monitor each other out of fear;
Because love controls all other desires,
And transforms a small room into the entire universe.
Even if seas have been explored and new worlds discovered,
Even if maps have revealed countless worlds to others:
Let us possess just one world; we each have one, and we are one.
My face is reflected in your eyes, yours in mine,
And true and genuine hearts rest in our faces;
Where else can we find two better halves,
Without a harsh North, without a setting West?
Anything that perishes wasn't mixed in equal measure;
If our two loves are one, or if you and I
Love so similarly that neither falters, then neither can die.
I hope this translation helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.