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Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert [Editor] Bell • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 6

THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Narrator

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.

Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Robert [Editor] Bell

Cover illustration for Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the

Chapter I

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco. The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco. And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco. And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco. And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must. Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/1 · 6 reading units · Lines 1–6

Line 1

THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Line 2

The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Line 3

And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Line 4

And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Line 5

And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

Line 6

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

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.

Ashes noun US /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading “And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

All

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

and

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

art

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

ascends

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

at

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

away

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

behold'st

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

bespeak

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

cast

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

cut

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

decay

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

defiled

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Does

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

down

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

dust

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

e'en

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

fire

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

flesh

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

For

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

foul

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Gone

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

green

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

grows

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

hay

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

high

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Indian

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

is

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

It

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

lily-like

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

mayest

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

mortal

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

must

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

night

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

noon

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

now

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Of

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

on

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

pipe

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

puff

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

quite

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

require

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Return

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

say

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

seest

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

Shows

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

sin

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

smoke

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

so

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

soul

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

state

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

stuff

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

such

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

That

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

The

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Then

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

think

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

THIS

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Thou

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Though

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Thus

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

thy

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

thyself

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

to

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

From this reading And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

tobacco

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

touch

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

vanity

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

weak

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

weed

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

when

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

with

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

From this reading The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e’en such,— Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

withered

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

From this reading THIS Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

within

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

From this reading And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

worldly

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

From this reading And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold’st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Chapter 1 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the by Robert [Editor] Bell holds 6 sentences, grouped into 2 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 1 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the contain?

Chapter 1 holds 6 sentences of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the, unabridged, divided into 2 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the by Robert [Editor] Bell exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 6 sentences, grouped into 2 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 1 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the?

Work through the 2 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 2 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the

Common questions about reading Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the by Robert [Editor] Bell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the?

Yes. All 2651 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #649 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #649, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the take to read?

About 220 minutes of reading across 531 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the section by section

How to work through Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 19 chapters of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the

Words and structures a reader meets early in Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Indian: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Withered: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Quite: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Though: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.