Does ''If he be.....'' in english means ''if he'll be.....''?

Discussion in 'Random Thoughts' started by Grandeur, Dec 28, 2020.

  1. Grandeur

    Grandeur Members

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    Is that so?

    Even in the book I read, it is written as ''if he be.....'' I don't get why it is not ''if he''ll be....''
     
    Grandeur, Dec 28, 2020
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  3. WOLF ANGEL

    WOLF ANGEL Senior Member - A Fool on the Hill Lifetime Supporter

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    It is the language of the Olde World tongue Grandeur
     
    WOLF ANGEL, Dec 28, 2020
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  5. themnax

    themnax Senior Member

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    sounds more like "if he is" to me. it takes context to extract intended meaning from purple prose.
    perhaps this is an expression of the 'voice' of a particular character.
    writers use all sorts of forms for all sorts of reasons, and the cultures and times they live in are an influence too.
     
    themnax, Dec 28, 2020
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  7. ~Zen~

    ~Zen~ California Tripper Administrator

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    I believe my friend the esteemed Cannabis Poet of Amsterdam would say that the writer was using his "poetic license" to say something that might rhyme with other word patterns.
     
    ~Zen~, Dec 28, 2020
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