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Confessio Amantis
Confessio Amantis

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Confessio Amantis is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.
For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.
To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.
And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.
760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Confessio Amantis

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Confessio Amantis is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.
Line 2
For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.
Line 3
To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.
Line 4
And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.
Line 5
760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

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.

afterward adverb US /ˈæftərwərd/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading “To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.”

Bot noun US /bɔːt/

botfly larva; typically develops inside the body of a horse or sheep or human

From this reading “To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.”

Cite verb US /saɪt/

make reference to

From this reading “760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.”

Deceive verb US /dɪˈsiːv/

be false to; be dishonest with

From this reading “For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.”

feigned adjective US /feɪnd/

not genuine

From this reading “For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.”

hem noun US /hem/

the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down

From this reading “And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.”

lust noun US /lʌst/

a strong sexual desire

From this reading “To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.”

Pauline adjective US /pɔːˈliːn/

relating to Paul the Apostle or his doctrines

From this reading “760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.”

All words in this reading · 109

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.

750

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

760

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

afterwardadverbUS /ˈæftərwərd/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

alnounUS /æl/

a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

alle

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

atteignest

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

avise

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

befalle

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

beste

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

beswike

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

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

BotnounUS /bɔːt/

botfly larva; typically develops inside the body of a horse or sheep or human

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

chiere

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

CiteverbUS /saɪt/

make reference to

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

Croniqe

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

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

daies

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

deceipte

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

DeceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/

be false to; be dishonest with

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

degre

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

ek

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

ensample

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

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

entente

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

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

faireste

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

feignedadjectiveUS /feɪnd/

not genuine

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

feignest

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

finde

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

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

forto

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

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

fre

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

hadde

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

hastauxiliary verbUS /hæst/

an old form of “have”, used with “thou”

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

hemnounUS /hem/

the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

herte

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

hihte

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

kepe

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

ladde

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

lustnounUS /lʌst/

a strong sexual desire

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

mannes

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

matiere

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

MinounUS /miː/

destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

Monarchie

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

myn

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

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

noght

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

olde

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

PaulineadjectiveUS /pɔːˈliːn/

relating to Paul the Apostle or his doctrines

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

proveverbUS /pruːv/

be shown or be found to be

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

repente

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

RomenounUS /roʊm/

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

Romein

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

schalt

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

sche

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

scholde

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

seiden

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

sihte

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And forto prove myn entente, I finde ensample in a Croniqe Of hem that love so beswike.

Sone

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

themperour

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

Ther

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

therupon

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

thi

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

Thogh

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

thow

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

thusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

Tiberius

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

Towardes

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

trowthe

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

upryht

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

wel

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

WhichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

Whil

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

whyle

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

wif

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

wiht

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

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

wolde

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

From this reading For who that wolde him wel avise What hath befalle in this matiere, He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 Deceive Love in no degre.

wonne

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht To kepe his word in trowthe upryht Towardes love in alle wise.

worthi

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

From this reading 760 It fell be olde daies thus, Whil themperour Tiberius The Monarchie of Rome ladde, Ther was a worthi Romein hadde A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, Which was to every mannes sihte Of al the Cite the faireste, And as men seiden, ek the beste.

wyle

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

From this reading To love is every herte fre, Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest And therupon thi lust atteignest, That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, Thogh it thee like for a whyle, Thou schalt it afterward repente.

Chapter 3 of Confessio Amantis by John Gower holds 126 sentences, grouped into 26 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 3 of Confessio Amantis contain?

Chapter 3 holds 126 sentences of Confessio Amantis, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Confessio Amantis by John Gower exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 126 sentences, grouped into 26 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 3 of Confessio Amantis?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 3 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Confessio Amantis

Common questions about reading Confessio Amantis by John Gower on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Confessio Amantis?

Yes. All 4761 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #266 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Confessio Amantis is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #266, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Confessio Amantis take to read?

About 396 minutes of reading across 953 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Confessio Amantis section by section

How to work through Confessio Amantis section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Confessio Amantis 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 Confessio Amantis

Words and structures a reader meets early in Confessio Amantis, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Following
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confessio Amantis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Electronic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confessio Amantis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Based
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confessio Amantis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Edition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confessio Amantis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.