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Ballads
Ballads

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ballads is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Ballads
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.
Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.
TERIITERA.
I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.
Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.
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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.

Ballads

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Ballads is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.
Line 2
Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.
Line 3
TERIITERA.
Line 4
I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.
Line 5
Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

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.

Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

and

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

as

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

being

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

beyond

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

body

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

brother

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

clan

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

Comely

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

countenance

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

country

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

days

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

done

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

empty

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

English

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

every

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

eyes

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

favoured

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

fell

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

fishing

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

for

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

forth

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

fortune

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

friend

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

gave

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

guest

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

gullible

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

herself

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

him

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

his

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

honoured

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

house

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

I

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

in

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

island

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

it

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

kind

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

lad

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

let

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

life

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

living

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

loved

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

made

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

me

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

meaning

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

men

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

mode

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

mother

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

much

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

my

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

name

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

nimble

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

of

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

old

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

ORI

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

ruled

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

Serving

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

sign

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

simple

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

SLAYING

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

story

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

Taiárapu

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

Take

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

tell

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

TERIITERA

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

From this reading TERIITERA.

the

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

This

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

to

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

tongue

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

too

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

TÁMATÉA

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

well

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

went

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

wife

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

with

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

wont

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

From this reading Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind, Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind, His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont of a wife, Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

you

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

From this reading Take it, being done; And let me sign it with the name you gave.

your

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

From this reading ORI, my brother in the island mode, In every tongue and meaning much my friend, This story of your country and your clan, In your loved house, your too much honoured guest, I made in English.

youth

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

From this reading I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA IT fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

Chapter 1 of Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 Ballads contain?

Chapter 1 holds 138 sentences of Ballads, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 Ballads?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 Ballads

Common questions about reading Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ballads?

Yes. All 604 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #413 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ballads is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #413, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ballads take to read?

About 50 minutes of reading across 121 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Ballads section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of Ballads 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 Ballads

Words and structures a reader meets early in Ballads, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Brother
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ballads; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Island
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ballads; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Every
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ballads; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tongue
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ballads; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.