Edgar Allan Poe...please

Psiche · #1 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2007, 19:16

Hello!!
I was trying to translate a poem by Poe which is "The city in the sea".
There's a part of the text I can't understand
I'd be happy if someone could explain me

Thanks!!

Around, by lifting winds forgot,
Resignedly beneath the sky
The melancholy waters he.

**MrPedantic** · #2 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2007, 20:45

Hello Psiche, welcome to Using English!

I believe there may be an error in that text; the terminal "he" should be "lie" (note that the word has to rhyme with "sky").

Thus:

"The melancholy waters lie all around, quiet and still, as if in resignation. The winds do not disturb them."

"The waters" = "the sea".

"Lifting winds" means "winds that stir up (the sea)."

All the best,

MrP

Psiche · #3 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2007, 20:55

Thank you Mr P
You were right..There's an error in the text which I found on a web site

Thanks!!!
See you soon

**MrPedantic** · #4 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2007, 21:21

You're welcome – good luck with the translation!

MrP


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