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The Ass Eating Thistles
The Ass Eating Thistles

Chapter I · A Feast on the Harvest Road

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

An ass carries baskets of fine provisions through a harvest field but stops to eat a large thistle.
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,
he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.
By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,
began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:
"How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!
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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.

The Ass Eating Thistles

Chapter I · A Feast on the Harvest Road

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

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

Line 1
An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,
Line 2
he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.
Line 3
By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,
Line 4
began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:
Line 5
"How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

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.

epicures plural noun US /ˈepɪkjʊrz/

people who take particular pleasure in fine food and drink

From this reading “"How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!”

mumble verb US /ˈmʌmbəl/

to bite or chew food slowly and with some difficulty

From this reading “began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:”

provisions plural noun US /prəˈvɪʒənz/

supplies of food and drink for a journey or a group of people

From this reading “An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,”

All words in this reading · 63

Every word is available to listen to. 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 By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

amidst

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From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

An

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From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

and

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From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

as

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From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

Ass

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From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

began

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From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

being

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From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

By

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From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

carry

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From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

carrying

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From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

delicate

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From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

dine

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From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

doing

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From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

entered

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From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

epicuresplural nounUS /ˈepɪkjʊrz/

people who take particular pleasure in fine food and drink

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

field

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From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

fine

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From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

for

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From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

good

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From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

greedy

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From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

happy

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

harvest

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

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

he

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From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

his

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

From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

How

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

hungry

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

From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

I

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

in

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

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

into

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

From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

it

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

From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

large

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

From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

loaded

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From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

many

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

master

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

From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

met

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

From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

mumbleverbUS /ˈmʌmbəl/

to bite or chew food slowly and with some difficulty

From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

now

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

of

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

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

provisionsplural nounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/

supplies of food and drink for a journey or a group of people

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

reapers

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

From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

reflection

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

From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

several

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

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

so

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

From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

sorts

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

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

such

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

the

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

From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

themselves

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

think

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

this

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

From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

Thistle

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

From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

time

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From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

to

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

From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

upon

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

From this reading he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.

variety

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

very

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

From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

viands

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

was

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

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

way

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

From this reading By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,

which

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

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

while

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

From this reading began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:

with

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

From this reading An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,

would

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

From this reading "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!

Shadowing Practice

Repeat the selected source lines aloud to practice rhythm, stress, and clear US English pronunciation.

Narrator: An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest,
Narrator: he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon.
Narrator: By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry,
Narrator: began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he entered into this reflection:
Narrator: "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry!