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Complete Poetical Works
Complete Poetical Works

Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of Complete Poetical Works is here in full — 157 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Complete Poetical Works
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!
'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!
I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!
And just think what that echo said--Joe!
V.
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.

Complete Poetical Works

Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of Complete Poetical Works is here in full — 157 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!
Line 2
'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!
Line 3
I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!
Line 4
And just think what that echo said--Joe!
Line 5
V.
/viː/

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.

consent noun US /kənˈsent/

permission to do something

From this reading “I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!”

echo verb US /ˈekoʊ/

to say again or imitate

From this reading “And just think what that echo said--Joe!”

fooled verb US /fuːld/

past form of “fool” — make a fool or dupe of

From this reading “I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!”

Lily noun US /ˈlɪli/

any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading “Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!”

mayor noun US /ˈmeɪər/

the head of a city government

From this reading “Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!”

pardon verb US /ˈpɑːrdən/

accept an excuse for

From this reading “I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!”

Sandy adjective US /ˈsændi/

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading “Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!”

silly adjective US /ˈsɪli/

ludicrous, foolish

From this reading “'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!”

All words in this reading · 56

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 I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

bentnounUS /bent/

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

consentnounUS /kənˈsent/

permission to do something

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

echoverbUS /ˈekoʊ/

to say again or imitate

From this reading And just think what that echo said--Joe!

fooledverbUS /fuːld/

past form of “fool” — make a fool or dupe of

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

I've

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

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

Joe

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

From this reading And just think what that echo said--Joe!

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading And just think what that echo said--Joe!

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

LilynounUS /ˈlɪli/

any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

mayornounUS /ˈmeɪər/

the head of a city government

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

McGee

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

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

middlenounUS /ˈmɪdəl/

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

ohnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

pardonverbUS /ˈpɑːrdən/

accept an excuse for

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading And just think what that echo said--Joe!

SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

shotnounUS /ʃɑːt/

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

sillyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪli/

ludicrous, foolish

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading And just think what that echo said--Joe!

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

Twas

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

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

VnounUS /viː/

a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt

From this reading V.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading And just think what that echo said--Joe!

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading 'Twas because--oh, you silly!-- He once "went down the middle" with me!

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Now I know why they call this "The Lily;" Why the man who shot Sandy McGee You made mayor!

you've

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

From this reading I've been fooled to the top of my bent here, So come, and ask pardon--you know That you've still got to get MY consent, dear!

Chapter 19 of Complete Poetical Works by Bret Harte holds 157 sentences, grouped into 32 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 19 of Complete Poetical Works contain?

Chapter 19 holds 157 sentences of Complete Poetical Works, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 19 of Complete Poetical Works by Bret Harte exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 157 sentences, grouped into 32 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 19 of Complete Poetical Works?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 19 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 19 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 Complete Poetical Works

Common questions about reading Complete Poetical Works by Bret Harte on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Complete Poetical Works?

Yes. All 3299 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2507 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Complete Poetical Works is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2507, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Complete Poetical Works take to read?

About 274 minutes of reading across 660 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Complete Poetical Works section by section

How to work through Complete Poetical Works section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Complete Poetical Works

Words and structures a reader meets early in Complete Poetical Works, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Complete
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Complete Poetical Works; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Poetical
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Complete Poetical Works; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Works
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Complete Poetical Works; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Harte
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Complete Poetical Works; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.