The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #173907 Message #4217805
Posted By: DaveRo
22-Feb-25 - 04:19 PM
Thread Name: Is 'black as any moor' acceptable?
Subject: RE: Is 'black as any moor' acceptable?
One reason for changing that first line might be to make it more understandable to a younger audience who don't know what a Moor is or, if they do, misread it as a racial insult. "Girls came unto the door I look as black as any Moor" It implies he's attractive to girls despite being a dirty sweep. So translate that for your audience. "Though my clothes and face be black, it's not for girls I lack." That's not great, but you get the idea.