Meaning sentence "and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unseen.

[Zenoel]

Meaning sentence "and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unseen.

Hi, Could someone tell me the meaning in other words of the phrase? It is in the following context:

...'' Swollen sacs containing airs are found under the surface of the skin, and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unseen, whence to espy suitable prey.

What complicates me to understand is this part:

''upon drafts unseen''.

tedmc: The source is of the bestiary in final fantasy XII, a game; this is a description of the fanciful creature

 

[tedmc]

Re: Meaning sentence "and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unsee

Please give us the source of your text.

I am lost after reading the second phrase.

 

[Zenoel]

Re: Meaning sentence "and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unsee

This is a text of the bestiary in final fantasy XII, this is link of the text http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cockatrice_(Final_Fantasy_XII)

this is the entire text:
[h=3]Page 1: Observations [/h]Lo, the mighty cockatrice, proud-feathered sphere, known as much for its ill humor as its dire rotundity. The great naturalist Merlose once remarked: '...live they in the sands and other arid climes, whereabouts they moveth in a rolling fashion most peculiar. Subsist they principally on small creatures and vermin, for the incapacitation of which they disgorge a sticky saliva, thence devouring captured morsels only when appetite moves them.' Swollen sacs containing airs are found under the surface of the skin, and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unseen, whence to espy suitable prey.

 

[andrewg927]

Re: Meaning sentence "and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unsee

Could you tell me what you don't understand? Have you tried to look up unfamiliar words? It's old English so grammar and spelling are a little funny.

 

[GoesStation]

Re: Meaning sentence "and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unsee

It isn't old English, which evolved into middle English by the fourteenth century. I'd say it's a poor, nearly illiterate attempt at the style of some indeterminate period around 1880.

 

[andrewg927]

Re: Meaning sentence "and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unsee

Its old versus contemporary English. I wasn't trying to determine the exact when.

 

[GoesStation]

Re: Meaning sentence "and when inflated, these lifting the creature upon drafts unsee

"Old English" is the name of the language which evolved into middle English. It's better to use another phrase like "archaic English" to refer to old-fashioned versions of modern English.

The text in post #1 is faux archaic English. It comes from a modern video game.