Chapter 11 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12 is here in full — 354 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter XI
Chapter 11 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12 is here in full — 354 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
LAMB. I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too. [_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT. BREW. Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
Chapter 11 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12 is here in full — 354 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/70 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
the negotiation of the terms of a transaction or agreement
From this reading “Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.”
prepare by brewing
From this reading “BREW.”
young sheep
From this reading “LAMB.”
plural of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade
From this reading “Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.”
a negotiation between enemies
From this reading “Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.”
go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading “Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.”
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading “[_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading [_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
the negotiation of the terms of a transaction or agreement
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
prepare by brewing
From this reading BREW.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
to come or go into
From this reading [_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
young sheep
From this reading LAMB.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
engage in
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading [_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT.
plural of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
not any; not one
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
a negotiation between enemies
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
From this reading [_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading [_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT.
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading [_Retire._ _Enter_ MASTER BREWEN, STEPHEN, _and_ ROBERT.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
except if; if not
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Come, gentlemen, we'll make few words about it: Merchants in bargaining must not, like soldiers Lying at a siege, stay moneths, weeks, days, But strike at the first parley.
the words that are spoken
From this reading I'll have no words in private, unless I hear too.
Chapter 11 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12 by Robert Dodsley holds 354 sentences, grouped into 71 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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.
Chapter 11 holds 354 sentences of A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12, unabridged, divided into 71 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 11 of A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12 by Robert Dodsley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 354 sentences, grouped into 71 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.
Work through the 71 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 71 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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.
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About 600 minutes of reading across 2708 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 36 chapters of A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12 to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
