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Confession
Confession

Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of Confession is here in full — 244 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Confession
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DOUBTS--SUMMONS.
The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.
A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.
You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.
You will not trample the prostrate.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Confession

Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

Chapter 39 of Confession is here in full — 244 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DOUBTS--SUMMONS.
Line 2
The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.
Line 3
A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.
/ə sens ʌv ɡɪlt ənd ʃeɪm weɪz miː daʊn tuː ɜːrθ/
Line 4
You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.
/juː kæn nɑːt əˈplaɪ ə ˈhɑːrʃər ˈdʒʌdʒmənt tuː maɪ ˈkɑːndəkt ðæn aɪ fiːl ɪt dɪˈzɜːrvz bʌt aɪ æm krʌʃt ɔːlˈredi/
Line 5
You will not trample the prostrate.
/juː wɪl nɑːt ˈtræmpəl ðə ˈprɑːstreɪt/

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.

billet noun US /ˈbɪlət/

a short personal letter

From this reading “The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.”

harsher adjective US /ˈhɑːrʃər/

comparative of “harsh” — unpleasantly stern

From this reading “You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.”

implore verb US /ˌɪmˈplɔːr/

call upon in supplication; entreat

From this reading “The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.”

offense noun US /əˈfens/

a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others

From this reading “The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.”

prostrate verb US /ˈprɑːstreɪt/

get into a prostrate position, as in submission

From this reading “You will not trample the prostrate.”

repented verb US /rɪˈpentɪd/

past form of “repent” — turn away from sin or do penitence

From this reading “The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.”

trample verb US /ˈtræmpəl/

tread or stomp heavily or roughly

From this reading “You will not trample the prostrate.”

weighs verb US /weɪz/

third-person singular of “weigh” — have a certain weight

From this reading “A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.”

All words in this reading · 55

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.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.

addressedadjectiveUS /əˈdrest/

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

applyverbUS /əˈplaɪ/

put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

billetnounUS /ˈbɪlət/

a short personal letter

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

conductverbUS /ˈkɑːndəkt/

direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/

treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

deservesverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvz/

third-person singular of “deserve” — be worthy or deserving

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

DOUBTSnounUS /daʊts/

plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something

From this reading DOUBTS--SUMMONS.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

gravenounUS /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/

the state of having committed an offense

From this reading A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.

harsheradjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrʃər/

comparative of “harsh” — unpleasantly stern

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

imploreverbUS /ˌɪmˈplɔːr/

call upon in supplication; entreat

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

judgmentnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒmənt/

an opinion formed by judging something

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

languagenounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

offensenounUS /əˈfens/

a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

pardonverbUS /ˈpɑːrdən/

accept an excuse for

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

pitynounUS /ˈpɪti/

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

prostrateverbUS /ˈprɑːstreɪt/

get into a prostrate position, as in submission

From this reading You will not trample the prostrate.

repentedverbUS /rɪˈpentɪd/

past form of “repent” — turn away from sin or do penitence

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.

shamenounUS /ʃeɪm/

a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt

From this reading A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.

sincerelyadverbUS /sɪnˈsɪrli/

with sincerity; without pretense

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

SUMMONSnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/

a request to be present

From this reading DOUBTS--SUMMONS.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading You can not apply a harsher judgment to my conduct than I feel it deserves; but I am crushed already.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

trampleverbUS /ˈtræmpəl/

tread or stomp heavily or roughly

From this reading You will not trample the prostrate.

vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/

a region marking a boundary

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

weighsverbUS /weɪz/

third-person singular of “weigh” — have a certain weight

From this reading A sense of guilt and shame weighs me down to earth.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading You will not trample the prostrate.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The billet which was addressed to my wife was in the following language:--“Lady, on the verge of the grave, having sincerely repented of the offense I have given you, I implore you to pity and to pardon.

Chapter 39 of Confession by William Gilmore Simms holds 244 sentences, grouped into 49 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 39 of Confession contain?

Chapter 39 holds 244 sentences of Confession, unabridged, divided into 49 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 39 of Confession by William Gilmore Simms exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 244 sentences, grouped into 49 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 39 of Confession?

Work through the 49 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 49 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 39 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 39 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 Confession

Common questions about reading Confession by William Gilmore Simms on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Confession?

Yes. All 7827 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6059 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Confession is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6059, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Confession take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1566 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Confession section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Confession 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 Confession

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

Confession
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confession; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Blind
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confession; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Heart
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confession; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dares
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confession; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.