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Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1
Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1

Chapter CXXXIX · Chapter 139

Chapter 139 of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1 is here in full — 21 sentences across 5 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/4 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.
28, 1804.
My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.
I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.
What good can possibly come of your plan?
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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.

Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1

Chapter CXXXIX · Chapter 139

Chapter 139 of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1 is here in full — 21 sentences across 5 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/4 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.
Line 2
28, 1804.
Line 3
My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.
/maɪ dɪr frend ɪt ɪz ˈaɪdəl fɔːr miː tuː seɪ tuː juː ðæt maɪ hɑːrt ənd ˈveri soʊl eɪk wɪð ðə dʌl peɪn ʌv wʌn strʌk daʊn ənd stʌnd/
Line 4
I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.
Line 5
What good can possibly come of your plan?
/wʌt ɡʊd kæn ˈpɑːsəbli kʌm ʌv jɔːr plæn/

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.

ache verb US /eɪk/

feel physical pain

From this reading “My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.”

dissuade verb US /dɪˈsweɪd/

turn away from by persuasion

From this reading “I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.”

fain adjective US /feɪn/

having made preparations

From this reading “I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.”

idle adjective US /ˈaɪdəl/

not in action or at work

From this reading “My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.”

Jan noun US /dʒæn/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading “16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.”

stunned adjective US /stʌnd/

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading “My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.”

unmixed adjective US /ənˈmɪkst/

not mixed with extraneous elements

From this reading “I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.”

Westminster noun US /ˌwestˈmɪnstər/

a borough of Greater London on the Thames; contains Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey

From this reading “16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.”

All words in this reading · 52

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.

16

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

From this reading 16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.

1804

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

From this reading 28, 1804.

28

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

From this reading 28, 1804.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

Abingdon

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

From this reading 16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.

acheverbUS /eɪk/

feel physical pain

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading What good can possibly come of your plan?

cannot

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

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading What good can possibly come of your plan?

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

dissuadeverbUS /dɪˈsweɪd/

turn away from by persuasion

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

fainadjectiveUS /feɪn/

having made preparations

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading What good can possibly come of your plan?

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

idleadjectiveUS /ˈaɪdəl/

not in action or at work

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

JannounUS /dʒæn/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading 16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

painnounUS /peɪn/

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

planverbUS /plæn/

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading What good can possibly come of your plan?

possiblyadverbUS /ˈpɑːsəbli/

by chance

From this reading What good can possibly come of your plan?

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

StreetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading 16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

unmixedadjectiveUS /ənˈmɪkst/

not mixed with extraneous elements

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

WestminsternounUS /ˌwestˈmɪnstər/

a borough of Greater London on the Thames; contains Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey

From this reading 16, Abingdon Street, Westminster, Jan.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What good can possibly come of your plan?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading I write to you, for my letter cannot give you unmixed pain, and I would fain say a few words to dissuade you.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading My dear friend, It is idle for me to say to you, that my heart and very soul ache with the dull pain of one struck down and stunned.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading What good can possibly come of your plan?

Chapter 139 of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1 by Samuel Taylor Coleridge holds 21 sentences, grouped into 5 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 139 of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1 contain?

Chapter 139 holds 21 sentences of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1, unabridged, divided into 5 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 139 of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1 by Samuel Taylor Coleridge exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 21 sentences, grouped into 5 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 139 of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1?

Work through the 5 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 5 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 139 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 139 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 Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1

Common questions about reading Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1 by Samuel Taylor Coleridge on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1 is used?

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

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About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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