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A House of Pomegranates
A House of Pomegranates

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of A House of Pomegranates is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A House of Pomegranates
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.
But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.
And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.
It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’
But why will he not dance again?’ asked the Infanta, laughing.
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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 House of Pomegranates

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of A House of Pomegranates is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.
Line 2
But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.
Line 3
And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.
Line 4
It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’
Line 5
But why will he not dance again?’ asked the Infanta, laughing.

All words in this reading · 66

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.

A

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

after

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

again

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

and

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

asked

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

From this reading ‘But why will he not dance again?’ asked the Infanta, laughing.

back

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

be

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

bella

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

beside

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

bow

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

But

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

Chamberlain

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

dance

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

Don

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

dwarf

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

few

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

for

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

funny

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

grave

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

hand

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

have

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

having

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

he

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

heart

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

his

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

Infanta

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

is

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

It

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

King

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

knelt

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

laughing

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

From this reading ‘But why will he not dance again?’ asked the Infanta, laughing.

little

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

looked

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

low

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

made

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

master

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

Mi

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

might

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

moments

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

never

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

not

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

From this reading ‘But why will he not dance again?’ asked the Infanta, laughing.

Pedro

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

pity

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

Princesa

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

put

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

rose

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

said

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

sent

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

should

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

shoulders

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

shrugged

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

smile

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

so

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

terrace

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

that

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

the

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

to

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

ugly

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

From this reading It is a pity, for he is so ugly that he might have made the King smile.’

up

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

upon

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

From this reading But the Chamberlain looked grave, and he knelt beside the little dwarf, and put his hand upon his heart.

wearily

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

went

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

whipping

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

From this reading ‘A whipping master should be sent for,’ said Don Pedro wearily, and he went back to the terrace.

why

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

From this reading ‘But why will he not dance again?’ asked the Infanta, laughing.

will

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

your

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

From this reading And after a few moments he shrugged his shoulders, and rose up, and having made a low bow to the Infanta, he said— ‘_Mi bella Princesa_, your funny little dwarf will never dance again.

Chapter 4 of A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde holds 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 4 of A House of Pomegranates contain?

Chapter 4 holds 167 sentences of A House of Pomegranates, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 4 of A House of Pomegranates?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 House of Pomegranates

Common questions about reading A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A House of Pomegranates?

Yes. All 1488 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #873 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A House of Pomegranates is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #873, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A House of Pomegranates take to read?

About 124 minutes of reading across 298 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A House of Pomegranates section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of A House of Pomegranates 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 House of Pomegranates

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

Seventh
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A House of Pomegranates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Edition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A House of Pomegranates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A House of Pomegranates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Published
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A House of Pomegranates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.