Chapter 3 of Characters of Shakespeare's Plays is here in full — 382 sentences across 77 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter III
Chapter 3 of Characters of Shakespeare's Plays is here in full — 382 sentences across 77 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Iago. I pray you be content:'tis but his humour. The business of the state does him offence. Desdemona. If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
Chapter 3 of Characters of Shakespeare's Plays is here in full — 382 sentences across 77 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/76 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading “If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;”
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading “If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;”
third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading “If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;”
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading “I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.”
the villain in William Shakespeare's tragedy who tricked Othello into murdering his wife
From this reading “Iago.”
plural of “mood” — a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading “If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;”
marked by diversity or difference
From this reading “If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;”
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading “If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
(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 If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The business of the state does him offence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desdemona.
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The business of the state does him offence.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The business of the state does him offence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
the villain in William Shakespeare's tragedy who tricked Othello into murdering his wife
From this reading Iago.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
plural of “mood” — a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
not any; not one
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The business of the state does him offence.
the action of attacking an enemy
From this reading The business of the state does him offence.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
possession of controlling influence
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
a short musical composition with words
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The business of the state does him offence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The business of the state does him offence.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
marked by diversity or difference
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
in the company of; together with
From this reading If'twere no other!-- The scene which follows with Aemilia and the song of the Willow are equally beautiful, and show the author's extreme power of varying the expression of passion, in all its moods and in all circumstances;
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I pray you be content:'tis but his humour.
Chapter 3 of Characters of Shakespeare's Plays by William Hazlitt holds 382 sentences, grouped into 77 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.
Chapter 3 holds 382 sentences of Characters of Shakespeare's Plays, unabridged, divided into 77 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of Characters of Shakespeare's Plays by William Hazlitt exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 382 sentences, grouped into 77 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.
Work through the 77 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 77 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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.
Common questions about reading Characters of Shakespeare's Plays by William Hazlitt on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3773 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5085 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #5085, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 314 minutes of reading across 755 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Characters of Shakespeare's Plays section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 10 chapters of Characters of Shakespeare's Plays to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Characters of Shakespeare's Plays, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
