Thread: Medieval poem vocab

hello

I am translating a medieval poem for a primary source for an essay on the crusades. Can anyone tell me what 'fazían' translates as?

in context:

De las vestimentas fazían cubiertas;
del Sepulcro Santo fazían establo;
de las cruzes santas
fazían estacas
en Iherusalem.

it seems like it means "they made ... into", but it is used in other places as well, ie:

Fazen ayuntamiento los de Babilonia
con los africanos para los de Etiopia,

and

Léese la carta en el conçilio santo:
papa e cardenales fazían grand llanto,

Can anyone help?

Thanks - cory

Hi Cory,

"Fazer" is the Medieval Spanish form of "hacer." How you would translate it into English would, of course, depend upon the context.

For the first part, I'd agree with your interpretation of "they made... into" or I might even switch the order and say "they made *** out of ***".

"Fazen ayuntamiento" would refer to staging a meeting or a council.

and "fazian grand llanto" in this case means "cried" or "wept."

Hope that helps!

perfect. thank you

do you have any ideas for 'dubdar' in:


5 Estos moros perros a la casa santa
siete años e medio la tienen çercada;
non dubdan morir
por la conquerir
a Iherusalem.

by chance?

cory

I think in this context it's like "dudar," so it would mean something like "they won't hesitate to die in order to conquer Jerusalem".