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A Bundle of Ballads
A Bundle of Ballads

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of A Bundle of Ballads is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Bundle of Ballads
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.
"Is this well told?" said Little Much.
John said, "What grieveth thee?
It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.
Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Bundle of Ballads

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of A Bundle of Ballads is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.
Line 2
"Is this well told?" said Little Much.
/ɪz ðɪs wel toʊld sed ˈlɪtəl mʌtʃ/
Line 3
John said, "What grieveth thee?
Line 4
It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.
Line 5
Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

alms noun US /ɑːlmz/

money or goods contributed to the poor

From this reading “It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.”

clothing noun US /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/

a covering designed to be worn on a person's body

From this reading “Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.”

knight noun US /naɪt/

originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading “It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.”

pound verb US /paʊnd/

hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument

From this reading “Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.”

score noun US /skɔːr/

a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)

From this reading “Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.”

therein adverb US /ðeˈrɪn/

(formal) in or into that thing or place

From this reading “Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.”

thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.”

wrap verb US /ræp/

arrange or fold as a cover or protection

From this reading “Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.”

All words in this reading · 49

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

almsnounUS /ɑːlmz/

money or goods contributed to the poor

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

bod-y

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/

a covering designed to be worn on a person's body

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

eighteen-e

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

fallverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

fo-ur

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

ForthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

gentleadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəl/

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

grieveth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading John said, "What grieveth thee?

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

helpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "Is this well told?" said Little Much.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

knightnounUS /naɪt/

originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

LittleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

liver-ay

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

MasternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

MuchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "Is this well told?" said Little Much.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

poundverbUS /paʊnd/

hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

povert-y

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Is this well told?" said Little Much.

Scathelock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

scorenounUS /skɔːr/

a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading John said, "What grieveth thee?

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

thereinadverbUS /ðeˈrɪn/

(formal) in or into that thing or place

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "Is this well told?" said Little Much.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It is alms to help a gentle knight That is fall in povert-y.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Is this well told?" said Little Much.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Forth then went Little John, And Scathelock went before, He told out fo-ur hundred pound, By eighteen-e score.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading John said, "What grieveth thee?

wrapverbUS /ræp/

arrange or fold as a cover or protection

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

YepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading Master," then said Little John, "His clothing is full thin, Ye must give the knight a liver-ay, To wrap his bod-y therein.

Chapter 8 of A Bundle of Ballads by Henry [Editor] Morley holds 126 sentences, grouped into 26 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 8 of A Bundle of Ballads contain?

Chapter 8 holds 126 sentences of A Bundle of Ballads, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of A Bundle of Ballads by Henry [Editor] Morley exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 126 sentences, grouped into 26 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 8 of A Bundle of Ballads?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Bundle of Ballads

Common questions about reading A Bundle of Ballads by Henry [Editor] Morley on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Bundle of Ballads?

Yes. All 1660 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2831 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Bundle of Ballads is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2831, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Bundle of Ballads take to read?

About 138 minutes of reading across 332 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Bundle of Ballads section by section

How to work through A Bundle of Ballads section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of A Bundle of Ballads to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Bundle of Ballads

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Bundle of Ballads, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Recitation
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Bundle of Ballads; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dramatic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Bundle of Ballads; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Energy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Bundle of Ballads; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Whose
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Bundle of Ballads; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.