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Dialogues of the Dead
Dialogues of the Dead

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Dialogues of the Dead is here in full — 450 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.
By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.
He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.
The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.
His eloquence was more persuasive from appearing unstudied.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Dialogues of the Dead

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Dialogues of the Dead is here in full — 450 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/90 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.
Line 2
By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.
Line 3
He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.
/hiː wɑːz ˈkɑːnsəl ənd frʌm ðə ˈmoʊmənt ðæt ˈsiːzər wɑːz ded ðə tʃiːf ˈpaʊər ʌv ðə steɪt wɑːz ɪn hɪz hændz/
Line 4
The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.
Line 5
His eloquence was more persuasive from appearing unstudied.

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.

Antony noun US /ˈæntəni/

Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)

From this reading “By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.”

Atticus noun US /ˈætɪkəs/

atlas moth

Consul noun US /ˈkɑːnsəl/

a diplomat appointed by a government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country

From this reading “He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.”

frankness noun US /ˈfræŋknəs/

the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

From this reading “The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.”

liberality noun US /ˌlɪbɜːrˈælətiː/

an inclination to favor progress and individual freedom

From this reading “The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.”

persuasive adjective US /pərˈsweɪsɪv/

intended or having the power to induce action or belief

From this reading “His eloquence was more persuasive from appearing unstudied.”

sparing adjective US /ˈsperɪŋ/

avoiding waste

From this reading “By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.”

tyranny noun US /ˈtɪrəni/

a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

From this reading “By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

adoredadjectiveUS /əˈdɔːrd/

regarded with deep or rapturous love (especially as if for a god)

From this reading The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

AntonynounUS /ˈæntəni/

Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/

formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action

From this reading His eloquence was more persuasive from appearing unstudied.

AtticusnounUS /ˈætɪkəs/

atlas moth

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

CaesarnounUS /ˈsiːzər/

conqueror of Gaul and master of Italy (100-44 BC)

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

Cassiusnoun

prime mover in the conspiracy against Julius Caesar (died in 42 BC)

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

chiefnounUS /tʃiːf/

a person who is in charge

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

ConsulnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəl/

a diplomat appointed by a government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

eloquencenounUS /ˈel.ə.kwəns/

Fluent, persuasive, and graceful speaking or writing. (Sự hùng biện, tài ăn nói lưu loát.)

From this reading His eloquence was more persuasive from appearing unstudied.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.

franknessnounUS /ˈfræŋknəs/

the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

From this reading The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.

freedomnounUS /ˈfriːdəm/

the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

liberalitynounUS /ˌlɪbɜːrˈælətiː/

an inclination to favor progress and individual freedom

From this reading The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.

militaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/

of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare

From this reading The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading His eloquence was more persuasive from appearing unstudied.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

persuasiveadjectiveUS /pərˈsweɪsɪv/

intended or having the power to induce action or belief

From this reading His eloquence was more persuasive from appearing unstudied.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

punishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌnɪʃt/

subjected to a penalty (as pain or shame or restraint or loss) for an offense or fault or in order to coerce some behavior (as a confession or obedience)

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

remainverbUS /rɪˈmeɪn/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

restoreverbUS /rɪˈstɔːr/

return to its original or usable and functioning condition

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

soldiersnounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.

sparingadjectiveUS /ˈsperɪŋ/

avoiding waste

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

StatenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

sufferedverbUS /ˈsʌfərd/

past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

tyrannynounUS /ˈtɪrəni/

a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

From this reading By sparing Antony, against the opinion of Cassius, you suffered the tyranny to remain.

tyrantnounUS /ˈtaɪrənt/

a cruel and oppressive dictator

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

unstudiedadjective

not by design or artifice; unforced and impromptu

From this reading His eloquence was more persuasive from appearing unstudied.

valournoun

the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)

From this reading The soldiers adored him for his liberality, valour, and military frankness.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was Consul, and, from the moment that Caesar was dead, the chief power of the State was in his hands.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _Atticus_.--You punished the tyrant, but you did not restore your country to freedom.

Chapter 4 of Dialogues of the Dead by George Lyttelton, Baron Lyttelton holds 450 sentences, grouped into 90 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 4 of Dialogues of the Dead contain?

Chapter 4 holds 450 sentences of Dialogues of the Dead, unabridged, divided into 90 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Dialogues of the Dead by George Lyttelton, Baron Lyttelton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 450 sentences, grouped into 90 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 4 of Dialogues of the Dead?

Work through the 90 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 90 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Dialogues of the Dead

Common questions about reading Dialogues of the Dead by George Lyttelton, Baron Lyttelton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Dialogues of the Dead?

Yes. All 2663 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #17667 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Dialogues of the Dead is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #17667, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Dialogues of the Dead take to read?

About 221 minutes of reading across 533 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Dialogues of the Dead section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Dialogues of the Dead

Words and structures a reader meets early in Dialogues of the Dead, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Dialogues
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dialogues of the Dead; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lyttelton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dialogues of the Dead; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cassell
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dialogues of the Dead; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dialogues of the Dead; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.