Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare is here in full — 222 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.
Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.
O pardon me,” she cried, that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”
You are pardoned,” he said, gaily.
At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare is here in full — 222 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.
Line 2
Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.
Line 3
O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”
/oʊ ˈpɑːrdən miː ʃiː kraɪd ðæt aɪ emˈplɔɪd maɪ ˈsɑːv.rən ɪn maɪ ˈtrʌbəl/
Line 4
You are pardoned,” he said, gaily.
/juː ɑːr ˈpɑːrdənd hiː sed ˈɡeɪli/
Line 5
At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.

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.

employed adjective US /emˈplɔɪd/

having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary

From this reading ““O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.””

friar noun US /ˈfraɪər/

a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms

From this reading ““Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.”

gaily adverb US /ˈɡeɪli/

in a gay manner

From this reading ““You are pardoned,” he said, gaily.”

grieves verb US /ɡriːvz/

third-person singular of “grieve” — feel grief

From this reading ““Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.”

hither adverb US /ˈhɪðər/

an old word meaning “to this place”

From this reading ““Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.”

pardoned verb US /ˈpɑːrdənd/

past form of “pardon” — accept an excuse for

From this reading ““You are pardoned,” he said, gaily.”

re-entered verb US /ˌriːˈentərd/

past form of “re-enter” — enter again

From this reading “At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.”

Sovereign adjective US /ˈsɑːv.rən/

Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.

From this reading ““O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.””

All words in this reading · 51

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

Angelo

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

From this reading At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “You are pardoned,” he said, gaily.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

ComeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

DukenounUS /duːk/

a British peer of the highest rank

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

employedadjectiveUS /emˈplɔɪd/

having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

friarnounUS /ˈfraɪər/

a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

gailyadverbUS /ˈɡeɪli/

in a gay manner

From this reading “You are pardoned,” he said, gaily.

grievesverbUS /ɡriːvz/

third-person singular of “grieve” — feel grief

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.

hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/

an old word meaning “to this place”

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

Isabel

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

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

OnounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

pardonverbUS /ˈpɑːrdən/

accept an excuse for

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

pardonedverbUS /ˈpɑːrdənd/

past form of “pardon” — accept an excuse for

From this reading “You are pardoned,” he said, gaily.

PrincenounUS /prɪns/

a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

re-enteredverbUS /ˌriːˈentərd/

past form of “re-enter” — enter again

From this reading At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.

roguishadjective

playful in an appealingly bold way

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

savedadjectiveUS /seɪvd/

rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

SovereignadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːv.rən/

Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

tonesnounUS /toʊnz/

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading “Come hither, Isabel,” said the Duke, in tender tones.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

From this reading “O pardon me,” she cried, “that I employed my Sovereign in my trouble.”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading At that moment Angelo and his wife re-entered.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You are pardoned,” he said, gaily.

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Your friar is now your Prince, and grieves he was too late to save your brother;” but well the roguish Duke knew he had saved him.

Chapter 10 of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by E. (Edith) Nesbit holds 222 sentences, grouped into 45 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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 10 of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare contain?

Chapter 10 holds 222 sentences of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by E. (Edith) Nesbit exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 222 sentences, grouped into 45 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 10 of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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 Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare

Common questions about reading Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by E. (Edith) Nesbit on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare?

Yes. All 2328 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1430 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1430, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare take to read?

About 194 minutes of reading across 466 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare section by section

How to work through Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare 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 Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare

Words and structures a reader meets early in Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Athens
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Where
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lived
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wicked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.