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Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the
Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the is here in full — 27 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the
Context Illustration Reading 1/5 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.
Catskin said to his mother, Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’
With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.
On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.
The sport being done, the young squire did say, Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the is here in full — 27 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.
Line 2
Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’
Line 3
With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.
Line 4
On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.
Line 5
The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

All words in this reading · 83

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 lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

admire

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

after

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

all

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

and

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

array

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

at

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

away

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

ball

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

be

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

being

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

both

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

bravely

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

broke

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

Catskin

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

comely

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

dance

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

dancèd

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

did

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

do

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

done

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

evening-tide

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

for

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

garments

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

Go

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

got

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

grew

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

had

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

he

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

her

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

herself

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

his

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

I

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

in

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

it

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

ladle

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

lady

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

let

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

live

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

madam

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

me

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

mile

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

mother

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

now

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

of

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

oftentimes

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

On

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

one

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

out

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

passion

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

Pray

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

quick

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

retire

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

rich

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

ride

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

said

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

say

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

see

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

servèd

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

she

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

so

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

son

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

speed

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

sport

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

squire

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

struck

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

tall

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

tell

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

that

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

The

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

then

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

this

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

thus

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

to

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

town

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

two

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

usèd

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

Where

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

From this reading On being thus servèd she quick got away, And in her rich garments herself did array; And then to this ball she with speed did retire, Where she dancèd so bravely that all did admire.

Who

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

From this reading The lady a son had both comely and tall, Who oftentimes usèd to be at a ball A mile out of town; and one evening-tide, To dance at this ball away he did ride.

With

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

From this reading With that in a passion this lady she grew, And struck her with the ladle, and broke it in two.

you

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

young

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

From this reading The sport being done, the young squire did say, ‘Young lady, where do you live? tell me, I pray.’

your

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

From this reading Catskin said to his mother, ‘Pray, madam, let me Go after your son now, this ball for to see.’

Chapter 17 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the by Robert [Editor] Bell holds 27 sentences, grouped into 6 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 17 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the contain?

Chapter 17 holds 27 sentences of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the, unabridged, divided into 6 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 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 27 sentences, grouped into 6 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 17 of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the?

Work through the 6 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 6 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 19 chapters of Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the 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 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.