Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Brief Lives, Vol. 2
Brief Lives, Vol. 2

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Brief Lives, Vol. 2 is here in full — 378 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Brief Lives, Vol. 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
<_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.
[294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.
She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.
<_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.
He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.
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.

Brief Lives, Vol. 2

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Brief Lives, Vol. 2 is here in full — 378 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
<_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.
Line 2
[294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.
Line 3
She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.
Line 4
<_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.
Line 5
He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

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.

Cambridge noun US /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/

a university in England

From this reading “[294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.”

chiefly adverb US /ˈtʃiːfli/

for the most part

From this reading “<_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.”

exercise noun US /ˈeksərsaɪz/

the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

From this reading “<_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.”

habits noun US /ˈhæbəts/

plural of “habit” — an established custom

From this reading “<_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.”

Portraits noun US /ˈpɔːrtrəts/

plural of “portrait” — a word picture of a person's appearance and character

preserve verb US /prəˈzɜːrv/

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

From this reading “<_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.”

riser noun US /ˈraɪzər/

a person who rises (especially from bed)

From this reading “He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.”

yea exclamation US /jeɪ/

an old word for “yes”

From this reading “He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.”

All words in this reading · 60

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.

293

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

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

294

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

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

295

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

From this reading <_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.

4

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

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

bookes

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

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

CambridgenounUS /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/

a university in England

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

chieflyadverbUS /ˈtʃiːfli/

for the most part

From this reading <_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.

clocknounUS /klɑːk/

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

drawne

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

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

engraven

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

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

exercisenounUS /ˈeksərsaɪz/

the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

From this reading <_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

habitsnounUS /ˈhæbəts/

plural of “habit” — an established custom

From this reading <_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

haz

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

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/

the literary culture

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

manè

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

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

picturesnounUS /ˈpɪktʃərz/

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

PortraitsnounUS /ˈpɔːrtrəts/

plural of “portrait” — a word picture of a person's appearance and character

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

preserveverbUS /prəˈzɜːrv/

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

risernounUS /ˈraɪzər/

a person who rises (especially from bed)

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

schollar

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

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

scil

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

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/

close enough to be walked to

From this reading <_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading <_His habits._> [295]His exercise was chiefly walking.

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 [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading [294]His widowe haz his picture, drawne very well and like, when a Cambridge schollar.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She has his picture when a Cambridge schollar, which ought to be engraven; for the pictures before his bookes are not _at all_ like him.

widowe

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

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

WriteverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading <_Portraits of him._> [293]Write his name in red letters on his pictures, with his widowe, to preserve.

yeaexclamationUS /jeɪ/

an old word for “yes”

From this reading He was an early riser (scil. at 4 a clock manè); yea, after he lost his sight.

Chapter 4 of Brief Lives, Vol. 2 by John Aubrey holds 378 sentences, grouped into 76 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 4 of Brief Lives, Vol. 2 contain?

Chapter 4 holds 378 sentences of Brief Lives, Vol. 2, unabridged, divided into 76 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Brief Lives, Vol. 2 by John Aubrey exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 378 sentences, grouped into 76 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 4 of Brief Lives, Vol. 2?

Work through the 76 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 76 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Brief Lives, Vol. 2

Common questions about reading Brief Lives, Vol. 2 by John Aubrey on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Brief Lives, Vol. 2?

Yes. All 13426 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #47791 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Brief Lives, Vol. 2 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #47791, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Brief Lives, Vol. 2 take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2686 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Brief Lives, Vol. 2 section by section

How to work through Brief Lives, Vol. 2 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of Brief Lives, Vol. 2 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 Brief Lives, Vol. 2

Words and structures a reader meets early in Brief Lives, Vol. 2, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Henry
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Brief Lives, Vol. 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Frowde
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Brief Lives, Vol. 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brief
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Brief Lives, Vol. 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lives
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Brief Lives, Vol. 2; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.