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Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare
Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/79 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.
It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”
The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.
Sewell’s preface is dated Nov.
24, 1724.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.
Line 2
It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”
Line 3
The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.
Line 4
Sewell’s preface is dated Nov.
Line 5
24, 1724.

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.

dated adjective US /ˈdeɪtɪd/

marked by features of the immediate and usually discounted past

From this reading “Sewell’s preface is dated Nov.”

Nov noun US /noʊv/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading “Sewell’s preface is dated Nov.”

Pope's noun US /poʊps/

possessive form of “pope” — the head of the Roman Catholic Church

preface noun US /ˈprefəs/

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading “It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.””

reprint noun US /riˈprɪnt/

a publication (such as a book) that is reprinted without changes or editing and offered again for sale

From this reading “It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.””

revised adjective US /rɪˈvaɪzd/

improved or brought up to date

From this reading “It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.””

seventh adjective US /ˈsevənθ/

coming next after the sixth and just before the eighth in position

From this reading “A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.”

supplementary adjective US /ˌsʌpləˈmentəri/

functioning in a supporting capacity

From this reading “It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.””

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

most prominent adverb + adjective

In this reading “The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.”

share in verb + particle

In this reading “A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.”

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.

1724

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

From this reading 24, 1724.

1725

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

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

24

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

From this reading 24, 1724.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

Artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

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

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/

past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

CharlesnounUS /tʃɑːrlz/

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/

-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

correctedadjectiveUS /kərˈektəd/

having something undesirable neutralized

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

datedadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪtɪd/

marked by features of the immediate and usually discounted past

From this reading Sewell’s preface is dated Nov.

Dr

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

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

Dunciad

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

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

editionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/

in or to another place

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

Gildon

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

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

NovnounUS /noʊv/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading Sewell’s preface is dated Nov.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

poemsnounUS /ˈpoʊəmz/

plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

PoetrynounUS /ˈpoʊətri/

literature in metrical form

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

PopenounUS /poʊp/

the head of the Roman Catholic Church

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

Pope'snounUS /poʊps/

possessive form of “pope” — the head of the Roman Catholic Church

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

PrefacenounUS /ˈprefəs/

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/

having a quality that thrusts itself into attention

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

reprintnounUS /riˈprɪnt/

a publication (such as a book) that is reprinted without changes or editing and offered again for sale

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

revisedadjectiveUS /rɪˈvaɪzd/

improved or brought up to date

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

Rowe's

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

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

seventhadjectiveUS /ˈsevənθ/

coming next after the sixth and just before the eighth in position

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

Sewell

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

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

Sewell's

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

From this reading Sewell’s preface is dated Nov.

ShakespearenounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːr/

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

shareverbUS /ʃer/

have in common

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

supplementaryadjectiveUS /ˌsʌpləˈmentəri/

functioning in a supporting capacity

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

thusadverbUS /ðʌs/

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

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

volumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A seventh volume containing the poems was added in 1725, but Pope had no share in it.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The most prominent share in this volume of “Pope’s Shakespeare” thus fell to Charles Gildon, who had attacked Pope in his _Art of Poetry_ and elsewhere, and was to appear later in the _Dunciad_.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It is a reprint of the supplementary volume of Rowe’s edition, “the whole revised and corrected, with a Preface, by Dr. Sewell.”

Chapter 2 of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare by David Nichol Smith holds 397 sentences, grouped into 80 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 2 of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare contain?

Chapter 2 holds 397 sentences of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare by David Nichol Smith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 397 sentences, grouped into 80 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 2 of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare

Common questions about reading Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare by David Nichol Smith on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare?

Yes. All 5863 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #30227 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #30227, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare take to read?

About 488 minutes of reading across 1173 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare

Words and structures a reader meets early in Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Nichol
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Smith
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Purpose
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Account
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Eighteenth Century Essays on Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.