Here is a scene from the first
Thor movie, including Thor's self-sacrifice when he appeals to Loki and Odin's invocation:
Thor: "Brother, whatever I have done to wrong you, whatever I have done to lead you to do this, I am truly sorry. But these people are innocent. Taking their lives will gain you nothing. So take mine, and end this."
Odin: "Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor."
Here is a scene from
Kingdom of Heaven, which is set during the Crusades (1187):
Saladin: Will you yield the city?
Balian: Before I lose it, I will burn it to the ground. Your holy place is ours. Every last thing in Jerusalem that drives men mad.
Saladin: I wonder if it would not be better if you did. You will destroy it?
Balian: Every stone. And every Christian knight you kill will take 10 Saracens with him. You will destroy your army here and never raise another. I swear to God that to take this city will be the end of you.
Saladin: Your city is full of women and children. If my army will die, so will your city.
Balian: You offer terms; I ask none.
Saladin: I will give every soul safe conduct to Christian lands. Every soul. The women, the children, the old, and all your knights and soldiers. And your queen. No one will be hurt. I swear to God.
Balian: The Christians butchered every Muslim within the walls when they took this city.
Saladin: I am not those men. I am Salah Eldin. Salah Eldin!
Balian: Then under these terms I surrender Jerusalem.
Saladin: Selam (
Peace be with you in Arabic)
Balian: And peace be with you.
Balian: What is Jerusalem worth?
Saladin: Nothing. Everything!
A clip from
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - the parley (set in - roughly - 1728)
Barbossa: You be the cur that led these wolves to our door?
Beckett: Don't blame Turner, he was merely the tool of your betrayal. If you wish to see its grand architect, look to your left.
Jack Sparrow: My hands are clean in this. Figuratively.
Will Turner: My actions were my own and to my own purpose. Jack had nothing to do with it.
Jack Sparrow: Well spoke! Listen to the tool.
Elizabeth Swann: Will, I've been aboard the
Dutchman. I understand the burden you bear, but I fear that cause is lost.
Will Turner: No cause is lost. If there is but one fool left to fight for it.
Beckett: If Turner wasn't acting on your behalf, then how did he come to give me this? You made a deal with me, Jack, to deliver the pirates, and here they are. Don't be bashful; step up! Claim your reward.
Davy Jones: Your debt to me is still to be satisfied! 100 years in servitude aboard the
Dutchman, as a start!
Jack Sparrow: That debt was paid, mate. With some help.
Davy Jones: You escaped!
Jack Sparrow: Technically -
Elizabeth Swann: I propose an exchange. Will leaves with us, and you can take Jack.
Will: Done!
Jack Sparrow: Undone!
Beckett: Done!
Barbossa: Jack's one of the nine pirate lords. You have no right-
Elizabeth Swann: King!
Jack Sparrow: As you command, your-
Barbossa: Blaggart! If ye have something to say, I might be sayin' something as well.
Jack Sparrow: First to the finish then?
Davy Jones: Do you fear death?
Jack Sparrow: You have no idea.
Beckett: Advise your brethren: You can fight, and all of you will die, or you can not fight, in which case only most of you will die.
Elizabeth Swann: You murdered my father.
Beckett: He chose his own fate.
Elizabeth Swann: Then you have chosen yours. We will fight, and you will die.
Beckett: So be it.
And from
Silence, set in Edo Japan with Portuguese missionaries (17th century - c. 1637). Warning: this scene contains a graphic execution.
Rodriguez: I want to talk to him.
Interpreter: There's no hurry. It is early. Plenty of time.
Rodriguez: Tell me. Does he know I'm here?
Interpreter: I cannot tell you. I must not speak about the business of the Inquisitor's Office. But, I can tell you, he knows you are alive, because we told him you apostatized.
Interpreter: Now, do you know what they use those mats for?
Rodrigues: No...
Interpreter: Look, the guard. What could he be saying to Fr. Garupe? Maybe this. 'If you are truly a Christian, you will apostatize, and not let them die.'
Interpreter: You know, the Inquisitor promises that if Fr. Garupe apostatizes, the four will be free. I hope Fr. Garupe agrees.
Interpreter: I should tell you, these Christians already trampled and denied their faith at the Inquisitor's office.
Rodrigues: If they did what you wanted, then let them go! Let them go! They-they-they did what you wanted, so let them go! Please! Please! Please! Let them go!
Interpreter: We don't want them. Four farmers? There are still hundreds of Christian peasants on the islands off the coast. We want the padre to deny and be an example to them.
Garupe: Stop! Please!
Rodrigues (internal): Apostatize, apostatize, for their sake, Lord, do not leave this to us!
Garupe: No!
Rodrigues: No, no, no, Garupe, no!
Rodrigues: No no no no no!
Rodrigues: No! Please-please-please
Interpreter: It's a horrible business! Terrible! No matter how many times you see it. Think of the suffering you have inflicted on these people. Just because of your selfish dream of a Christian Japan. ...Through you! At least Garupe was clean. But you! You have no will! You do not deserve to be called a priest.
Braveheart - William Wallace and Murron are reunited (1297)
William: How did you know me after so long?
Murron: Why, I didn't.
William: No?
Murron: It's just, I saw you staring at me, and I didn't know who you were.
William: Well sorry, I suppose I was. Are you in the habit of riding off in the rain with strangers?
Murron: It was the best way to make you leave!
William: Well, if I can ever work up the courage to ask you again, I'll send you a written warning first.
Murron: Oh, it wouldn't do you much good, I can't read.
William: Can you not?
Murron: No.
William: Well that's something we shall have to remedy, isn't it?
Murron: You're gonna teach me to read then?
William: If you like.
Murron: Aye.
William: In what language?
Murron: You're sure enough, now.
William: Are you impressed yet?
Murron: No. Why should I be?
William:{speaks French}
Murron: Do that standing on your head, and I'll be impressed.
William: My kilt'll fly up, but I'll try.
Murron: God, you certainly didn't learn any manners on your travels!
William: The French and Romans have far worse manners than I.
Murron: You've been to Rome?
William: Aye, my uncle took me on a pilgrimage.
Murron: What was is like?
William: {speaks Italian}
Murron: What does that mean?
William: Beautiful. But I belong here.
Prince Caspian - Edmund is sent as an emissary to issue Peter's challenge to Miraz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry9ztvh8Ac8
General Glozelle: Perhaps they have terms of surrender.
Miraz: No. They are much too noble for that.
Edmund (reading): I, Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election and by conquest, High King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Emperor of the Lone Islands, in order to prevent the abominable effusion of blood do hereby challenge the usurper Miraz to single combat upon the field of battle. The fight shall be to the death. The reward shall be total surrender.
Miraz: Tell me, Prince Edmund -
Edmund: King
Miraz: Pardon me?
Edmund: It's King Edmund, actually. Just King, though. Peter's the High King. I know, it's confusing.
Miraz: Why would we risk such a proposal when our armies would wipe you out by nightfall?
Edmund: Haven't you already underestimated our numbers? I mean, only a week ago, Narnians were extinct.
Miraz: And so you will be again.
Edmund: Well then you should have little to fear!
Miraz: This is not a question of bravery.
Edmund: So you're bravely refusing to fight a swordsman half your age?
Miraz: I didn't say I refused.
Counsellor: You shall have our support, your Majesty, whatever your decision.
Lord Sopespian: Sire, our military advantage alone provides the perfect excuse to avoid what-
Miraz: I'm not avoiding anything!
Lord Sopespian: I was merely pointing out that my lord was well within his rights to refuse.
General Glozelle: His majesty would never refuse. He relishes the chance to show the people the courage of their new king.
Miraz: You. You should hope your brother's sword is sharper than his pen.
These are all post-1995 Blockbuster films that cost millions of dollars to produce and were advertised to a wide (often international) audience. They are all serious dramas (though they may have comedic elements and comedic characters). Interestingly, accented English doesn't seem to have been an issue in these productions. They likely have a lot of restrictions that our project does not - we do not need to appeal to such a broad base. We can be more 'niche' in what we write. Unfortunately, such popular films do 'train' the general public not to expect any more archaicism than this, even in shows with historic settings. No one is asking or suggesting that we write dialogue that would fit in those films, though. Rhiannon, you are being given the nod to write dialogue like Tolkien did in the published
Silmarillion. And I know you particularly like the
-eth verb endings, but you are not finding much support for that idea here.