How is the phrase "whilst 'tis so" best paraphrased in the context of the poem?

The phrase "whilst 'tis so" can be best paraphrased as "while" because it conveys the sense of "at the same time as" or "during the period that." This alignment maintains the original contextual meaning of the phrase, which is often used to denote a simultaneous condition or circumstance in poetic language. The use of "whilst" adds a literary and somewhat archaic tone, and reducing it to "while" captures that simultaneous essence without losing the meaning. Other potential choices do not preserve this relationship of timing as effectively; for instance, "during this time" may imply a more extended duration rather than the immediate, concurrent sense that "while" encapsulates.