1

Or "stir th'" (where I saw is printed as "stirth'"). It's from a poem from Henry Wotton.

This day Dame Nature seemed in love;
The lusty sap began to move;
Fresh juice did stir th’ embracing vines,
And birds had drawn their valentines;
The jealous trout that low did lie
Rose at the well-dissembled fly;
There stood my friend, with patient skill
Attending of his trembling quill.

On a Bank as I Sat A-fishing
Sir Henry Wotton (1568–1639)

http://www.bartleby.com/331/29.html

0

1 Answer 1

2

The line is:

Fresh juice did stir th’ embracing vines,

In this case, th’ is simply a poetic abbreviation for the:

Fresh juice did stir the embracing vines,

This avoids an extra syllable (and keeps the poem in iambic quadrimeter).

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.