"When I first came down stairs, for two or three minutes I went down cellar to the water closet"

The quote attributed to Lizzie Andrew Borden refers to a sequence of occasions where she describes coming down from an upper flooring to the cellar, particularly to use the water closet. To translate this text, it is essential to consider both the historical context and the situations surrounding Lizzie Borden's life, particularly the infamous 1892 axe murders of her dad and stepmother, for which she was tried and acquitted.

Firstly, the mention of "when I first came downstairs" supplies a temporal context, suggesting the beginning of her day or a particular moment in her narrative about that day. This expression suggests a shift from one everyday activity or part of your house to another, providing an alibi or accounting for her motions during a crucial time.

The term "water closet" historically refers to a room with a flushing toilet. In the 19th century, plumbing systems were ending up being significantly typical in homes, though maybe not evenly distributed throughout all locations of a house. This recommends that Lizzie's reference of going to the water closet is intended to offer a mundane and routine description for her whereabouts, indicating normalcy and innocence.

The accuracy in her description-- specifying "two or 3 minutes"-- shows an effort to be precise about her timing, possibly to assert an alibi or clean up any misunderstandings about her presence elsewhere throughout the duration when the murders may have taken place. It appears purposeful, maybe even rehearsed, as she knew her motions would be inspected given her position as a suspect.

Considering the broader historic context, Lizzie Borden's account can be seen as part of her defense technique. Her specific reference of the cellar and the brief duration invested there constructs her narrative, maybe to account for a suspicious space in time or address potential queries about her actions when the murders occurred.

In conclusion, this quote can be analyzed as Lizzie's effort to provide a regular and verifiable account of her activities to counter allegations of her involvement in the murders. This cautious detailing of time and place demonstrates her awareness of the requirement to explain her actions and locate herself credibly within the context of her innocence claims.