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Ballads
Ballads

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Ballads is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Ballads
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, Pyre of my son,” she shouted, debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!
For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.
Tenfold precious the vengeance that comes after lingering years!
Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!
Ye left me a widow alone?
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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.

Ballads

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Ballads is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!
Line 2
For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.
Line 3
Tenfold precious the vengeance that comes after lingering years!
Line 4
Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!
Line 5
Ye left me a widow alone?

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.

Agony noun US /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/

Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.

From this reading “For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.”

Alone adjective US /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading “Ye left me a widow alone?”

All words in this reading · 68

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 Ye left me a widow alone?

abroad

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

after

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

From this reading Tenfold precious the vengeance that comes after lingering years!

agonynounUS /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/

Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

alive

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading Ye left me a widow alone?

And

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

are

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

arms

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

at

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

behold

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

beholding

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

But

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

comes

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

From this reading Tenfold precious the vengeance that comes after lingering years!

conflagration

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

days

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

debited

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

desire

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

drinks

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

dying

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

ears

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

eats

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

encompassed

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

famished

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

fire

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

For

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

glory

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

God

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

hark

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

her

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

I

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

in

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

its

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

last

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

Late

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

left

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

From this reading Ye left me a widow alone?

lingering

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

From this reading Tenfold precious the vengeance that comes after lingering years!

lust

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

me

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

From this reading Ye left me a widow alone?

mother

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

my

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

now

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

of

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

past

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

precious

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

From this reading Tenfold precious the vengeance that comes after lingering years!

Pyre

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

quenched

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

she

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

shouted

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

shrivel

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

singer

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

son

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

song

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

soul

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

Tenfold

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

From this reading Tenfold precious the vengeance that comes after lingering years!

that

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

the

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

they

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

From this reading For now are the days of my agony past, The lust that famished my soul now eats and drinks its desire, And they that encompassed my son shrivel alive in the fire.

threw

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

Támatéa

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

vengeance

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

voice

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

widow

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

From this reading Ye left me a widow alone?

Ye

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

years

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

From this reading Tenfold precious the vengeance that comes after lingering years!

yet

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

you

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

From this reading But the mother of Támatéa threw her arms abroad, “Pyre of my son,” she shouted, “debited vengeance of God, Late, late, I behold you, yet I behold you at last, And glory, beholding!

your

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

From this reading Ye quenched the voice of my singer?—hark, in your dying ears, The song of the conflagration!

Chapter 2 of Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 2 of Ballads contain?

Chapter 2 holds 163 sentences of Ballads, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 2 of Ballads?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.