"Stone walls do not a prison make...."

[Rayines]

Hello: These words are part of a poem from Richard Lovelace:
"Stone walls do not a prison make
nor iron bars a cage.................."
I wanted to ask if you consider the letters in blue as old English, or if it could be used nowadays for poetic language. How does it sound to modern ears?
(Sorry my English mistakes). Thank you.

 

[volky]

Sounds more like the Shakesperean era.

It is saying that because the walls are made of stone, that doesn't mean that they are a prison. Something else is required for them to become a prison.

 

[Ecossaise]

Hello: These words are part of a poem from Richard Lovelace:
"Stone walls do not a prison make
nor iron bars a cage.................."
I wanted to ask if you consider the letters in blue as old English, or if it could be used nowadays for poetic language. How does it sound to modern ears?
(Sorry my English mistakes). Thank you.

Because it is a poem, you could use the phrase in a poem today just as well as in Lovelace's day. Poetry is not ruled by grammar in the same way as prose.

 

[Rayines]

Sounds more like the Shakesperean era.

It is saying that because the walls are made of stone, that doesn't mean that they are a prison. Something else is required for them to become a prison.

Yes, volky, I understand the meaning, it's a nice poem. I was curious about that use of "do not a prison make", with the order reversed. Thanks .

 

[Rayines]

Because it is a poem, you could use the phrase in a poem today just as well as in Lovelace's day. Poetry is not ruled by grammar in the same way as prose.

Thank you very much.