‘No Man is an Island’No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any Manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Olde English Version No man is an Iland, intire of itselfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Manor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. MEDITATION XVII Devotions upon Emergent Occasions John Donne |
No man is an island
Published
How my heart sings 
Your source seems a bit wayward in translating Mannor (Donne’s original spelling) as manner, which makes no sense. I assume he means that the land/house one owns is an integral part of the rest of the country.
Thank you,Mike.I feel we have gone this way before!
Thank you so much for this old version! Your blog is the only place where I found it (for I remember this spelling from the old textbooks from my youth). Though it’s not Old English, of course, for Old English had the period of 450-1066 AD, and Donne surely used Early Modern English.
I am really pleased you found it helpful
I find language development fascinating