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Erotica Romana
Erotica Romana

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Erotica Romana is here in full — 455 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Erotica Romana
Context Illustration Reading 1/91 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:
Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.
You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.
Freely pluck, whosoever would eat.
--Hypocrites, those are the ones!
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Erotica Romana

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Erotica Romana is here in full — 455 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/91 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:
Line 2
Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.
/ˈfɜːrtəl ˈbræntʃəz huːz ˈprɑːdəkt ɪz ˈɡoʊldən fruːt ʌv maɪ ˈlaɪftaɪm set hiːr ɪn ˈhæpiər jɪrz ˈtendɪd wɪð ˈpleʒər təˈdeɪ/
Line 3
You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.
Line 4
Freely pluck, whosoever would eat.
Line 5
--Hypocrites, those are the ones!
/ˈhɪpəkrɪts ðoʊz ɑːr ðə wʌnz/

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.

albeit conjunction US /ɔːlˈbiːɪt/

although

From this reading “You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.”

Fertile adjective US /ˈfɜːrtəl/

capable of reproducing

From this reading “Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.”

Hypocrites noun US /ˈhɪpəkrɪts/

plural of “hypocrite” — a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives

From this reading “--Hypocrites, those are the ones!”

love's noun US /lʌvz/

possessive form of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading “Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:”

muse noun US /mjuːz/

in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science

From this reading “Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:”

plots noun US /plɑːts/

plural of “plot” — a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading “Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:”

product noun US /ˈprɑːdəkt/

commodities offered for sale

From this reading “Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.”

tended verb US /ˈtendɪd/

past form of “tend” — have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined

From this reading “Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.”

All words in this reading · 62

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.

albeitconjunctionUS /ɔːlˈbiːɪt/

although

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading --Hypocrites, those are the ones!

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/

plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

branchesnounUS /ˈbræntʃəz/

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/

taking care or paying attention

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

eatverbUS /iːt/

take in solid food

From this reading Freely pluck, whosoever would eat.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

FertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/

capable of reproducing

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

FreelyadverbUS /ˈfriːli/

in a free manner

From this reading Freely pluck, whosoever would eat.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

fruitnounUS /fruːt/

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

goldenadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊldən/

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

happieradjectiveUS /ˈhæpiər/

comparative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

Here's

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

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

HypocritesnounUS /ˈhɪpəkrɪts/

plural of “hypocrite” — a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives

From this reading --Hypocrites, those are the ones!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

I've

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

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

lifetimenounUS /ˈlaɪftaɪm/

the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

love'snounUS /lʌvz/

possessive form of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

musenounUS /mjuːz/

in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

onesnounUS /wʌnz/

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading --Hypocrites, those are the ones!

plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/

(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

plotsnounUS /plɑːts/

plural of “plot” — a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

pluckverbUS /plʌk/

pull or pull out sharply

From this reading Freely pluck, whosoever would eat.

Priapusnoun

(classical mythology) god of male procreative power and guardian of gardens and vineyards

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

productnounUS /ˈprɑːdəkt/

commodities offered for sale

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

SetverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

taughtverbUS /tɔːt/

inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

tendedverbUS /ˈtendɪd/

past form of “tend” — have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading --Hypocrites, those are the ones!

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

thievesnounUS /θiːvz/

plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading --Hypocrites, those are the ones!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

todaynounUS /təˈdeɪ/

the present time or age

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Here's where I've planted my garden and here I shall care for love's blossoms-- As I am taught by my muse, carefully sort them in plots:

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

whosoever

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

From this reading Freely pluck, whosoever would eat.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Freely pluck, whosoever would eat.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Fertile branches, whose product is golden fruit of my lifetime, Set here in happier years, tended with pleasure today.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You, stand here at my side, good Priapus--albeit from thieves I've Nothing to fear.

Chapter 1 of Erotica Romana by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe holds 455 sentences, grouped into 91 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 1 of Erotica Romana contain?

Chapter 1 holds 455 sentences of Erotica Romana, unabridged, divided into 91 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Erotica Romana by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 455 sentences, grouped into 91 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 1 of Erotica Romana?

Work through the 91 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 91 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Erotica Romana

Common questions about reading Erotica Romana by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Erotica Romana?

Yes. All 455 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7889 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Erotica Romana is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7889, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Erotica Romana take to read?

About 37 minutes of reading across 91 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Erotica Romana section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of Erotica Romana 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 Erotica Romana

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

Here's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Erotica Romana; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Where
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Erotica Romana; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Planted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Erotica Romana; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Garden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Erotica Romana; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.