Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays
French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."
Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.
Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.
"Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."
Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.
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.

French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."
Line 2
Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.
Line 3
Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.
/ðen ðə ˈleɪdi siːzd hɪz ˈbraɪdəl ənd wɪð ekˈstriːm tɔɪl brɔːt hɔːrs ənd ˈraɪdər bæk əˈɡen tuː lænd/
Line 4
"Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."
Line 5
Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

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.

bridle noun US /ˈbraɪdəl/

headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control

From this reading “Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.”

extreme adjective US /ekˈstriːm/

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading “Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.”

heed noun US /hiːd/

paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)

From this reading “Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.”

mightily adverb US /ˈmaɪtəli/

powerfully or vigorously

From this reading “"Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."”

palfrey noun US /ˈpælfri/

especially a light saddle horse for a woman

From this reading “Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.”

rider noun US /ˈraɪdər/

a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)

From this reading “Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.”

speedily adverb US /ˈspiːdəli/

with speed

From this reading “Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.”

toil verb US /tɔɪl/

work hard

From this reading “Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.”

All words in this reading · 67

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.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

banknounUS /bæŋk/

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

bridlenounUS /ˈbraɪdəl/

headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

enterverbUS /ˈentər/

to come or go into

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

extremeadjectiveUS /ekˈstriːm/

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

forcedadjectiveUS /fɔːrst/

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

Graelent

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

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

heednounUS /hiːd/

paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

horsenounUS /hɔːrs/

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

mightilyadverbUS /ˈmaɪtəli/

powerfully or vigorously

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

painnounUS /peɪn/

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

palfreynounUS /ˈpælfri/

especially a light saddle horse for a woman

From this reading Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

remainverbUS /rɪˈmeɪn/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

ridernounUS /ˈraɪdər/

a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

seizedverbUS /siːzd/

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

speedilyadverbUS /ˈspiːdəli/

with speed

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

StayverbUS /steɪ/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

streamnounUS /striːm/

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

sufferverbUS /ˈsʌfər/

undergo or be subjected to

From this reading Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

toilverbUS /tɔɪl/

work hard

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Again the lady set her palfrey to the river, but Graelent could not suffer to see her go upon her way alone.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Stay, Graelent, the stream is deep, and it is death for you to follow."

yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."

Chapter 8 of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays by de France, active 12th century Marie holds 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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 8 of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays contain?

Chapter 8 holds 417 sentences of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays by de France, active 12th century Marie exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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 8 of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays

Common questions about reading French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays by de France, active 12th century Marie on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays?

Yes. All 3785 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #11417 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #11417, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays take to read?

About 315 minutes of reading across 757 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays section by section

How to work through French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays 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 French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays

Words and structures a reader meets early in French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Marie
A word that appears in the opening chapter of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
France
A word that appears in the opening chapter of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Translated
A word that appears in the opening chapter of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Eugene
A word that appears in the opening chapter of French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.