Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Wolf and the Lamb
The Wolf and the Lamb

Chapter I · Accusations Upstream

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

WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

A wolf accuses a lamb who stands safely downstream in a clear woodland stream.
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,
but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.
He thus addressed him: Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”
Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, I was not then born.”
Then said the Wolf, You feed in my pasture.” No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Wolf and the Lamb

Chapter I · Accusations Upstream

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

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

Line 1
WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,
Line 2
but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.
Line 3
He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”
Line 4
Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”
Line 5
Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

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.

astray adverb US /əˈstreɪ/

away from the correct path or place

From this reading “WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,”

mournful adjective US /ˈmɔːrnfəl/

very sad in appearance or sound

From this reading ““Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.””

plea noun US /pliː/

a reason given to explain or defend an action

From this reading “but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.”

All words in this reading · 54

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 WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

addressed

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

astrayadverbUS /əˈstreɪ/

away from the correct path or place

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

bleated

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

born

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

but

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

From this reading but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.

eat

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

From this reading but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.

feed

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

From this reading Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

find

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

From this reading but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.

fold

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

from

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

good

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

From this reading Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

grossly

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

hands

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

He

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

him

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

I

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

in

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

Indeed

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

insulted

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

justify

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

From this reading but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.

Lamb

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

last

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

lay

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

me

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

meeting

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/

very sad in appearance or sound

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

my

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

From this reading Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

No

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

From this reading Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

not

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

of

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

on

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

pasture

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

From this reading Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

pleanounUS /pliː/

a reason given to explain or defend an action

From this reading but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.

replied

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

From this reading Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

resolved

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

right

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

From this reading but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.

said

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

From this reading Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

sir

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

From this reading Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,

Sirrah

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

some

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

From this reading but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.

the

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

then

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

thus

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

to

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

tone

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

violent

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

voice

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

was

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

From this reading “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”

with

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

WOLF

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

From this reading WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,

Wolf's

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

From this reading but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.

year

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

you

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

From this reading He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”

Shadowing Practice

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

Narrator: WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him,
Narrator: but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him.
Narrator: He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”
Narrator: “Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”
Narrator: Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb,