Hello again!
Following on from the rip-roaring success (well, a girl can dream) of our children's storytime abut Mr Bear and his Mighty Quest for a good night's sleep, I decided I would add a second tale in case any of the little deorlings wanted another story.
This one is a little simpler and shorter, and based on the classic David McKee story of "Not Now, Bernard." Nevertheless I am sure I will have managed to mangle a good few verbs and prepositions during its transformation. As ever I value your imporvements!
Every child knows the feeling of parental disinterest and every parent is ashamed to agree. So here we go:
Not Now, Bernard – ne nu, Beowulf (be David McKee)
Modern English Old English
Hello Dad, said Bernard Eala fæder sægde Beowulf
Not now, Bernard, said his father Ne nu Beowulf, sægde his fæder
Hello, Mum, said Bernard Eala modor sægde Beowulf
Not now, Bernard, said his mother Ne nu Beowulf, sægde his modor
There’s a monster in the garden and it’s going to eat me, said Bernard Grendel is in þæm wyrtgearde and he will me etan, sægde
Beowulf
Not now, Bernard, said his mother Ne nu Beowulf, sægde his modor
Bernard went into the garden Beowulf eode in wyrtgeard
Hello, monster, he said to the monster Eala Grendel, sægde he to Grendel
The monster ate Bernard up, every bit Hine æt Grendel, eallan bitan
Then the monster went indoors Þan eode Grendel in þæm huse
ROAR went the monster behind Bernard’s mother ROR cwæþ Grendel æt hinden Beowulfes modor
Not now, Bernard, said Bernard’s mother Ne nu Beowulf, sægde Beowulfes modor
The monster bit Bernard’s father Grendel bat Beowulfes fæder
Not now, Bernard, said Bernard’s father Ne nu Beowulf, sægde Beowulfes fæder
Your dinner’s ready, said Bernard’s mother Þin mete is gearu, sægde Beowulfes modor
She put the dinner in front of the television Heo settede þone mete befor þæm feorrseond
The monster ate the dinner Grendel ate þone mete
Then it watched television Þan wacode he feorrseond
Then it read one of Bernard’s comics Þan ræde he Beowulfes licnesesboc
And broke one of his toys And bræc he his plegþing
Go to bed, I’ve taken up your milk, called Bernard’s mother Ga to bedde, ic nam up þine meolc, ceallode Beowulfes modor
The monster went upstairs Grendel eode up
But I’m a monster, said the monster Ac ic eom Grendel, sægde Grendel
Not now, Bernard, said Bernard’s mother Ne nu, Beowulf, sægde Beowulfes modor