Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Idylls of the King
Idylls of the King

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Idylls of the King is here in full — 94 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Idylls of the King
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.
For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!
And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”
And the King Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”
Let Lancelot know, my King, let Lancelot know, Thy noblest and thy truest!”
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.

Idylls of the King

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Idylls of the King is here in full — 94 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.
Line 2
For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!
Line 3
And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”
Line 4
And the KingMake thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”
/ənd ðə kɪŋ meɪk ðiː maɪ naɪt ɪn ˈsiː.krət jeɪ bʌt hiː ˈaʊər ˈnoʊblɪst ˈbrʌðər ənd ˈaʊər ˈtruːɪst mæn ənd wʌn wɪð miː ɪn ɔːl hiː niːdz mʌst noʊ/
Line 5
Let Lancelot know, my King, let Lancelot know, Thy noblest and thy truest!”
/let ˈlænsəlɑːt noʊ maɪ kɪŋ let ˈlænsəlɑːt noʊ ðaɪ ˈnoʊblɪst ənd ðaɪ ˈtruːɪst/

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.

drinks noun US /drɪŋks/

plural of “drink” — a single serving of a beverage

From this reading “For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!”

Lancelot noun US /ˈlænsəlɑːt/

(Arthurian legend) one of the knights of the Round Table; friend of King Arthur until (according to some versions of the legend) he became the lover of Arthur's wife Guinevere

From this reading ““Let Lancelot know, my King, let Lancelot know, Thy noblest and thy truest!””

meats noun US /miːts/

plural of “meat” — the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food

From this reading “For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!”

mellow adjective US /ˈmeloʊ/

unhurried and relaxed

From this reading “For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!”

noblest adjective US /ˈnoʊblɪst/

superlative of “noble” — impressive in appearance

From this reading “And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.””

springing verb US /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/

-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading “Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.”

truest adjective US /ˈtruːɪst/

superlative of “true” — consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading “And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.””

yea exclamation US /jeɪ/

an old word for “yes”

From this reading “And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.””

All words in this reading · 61

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.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

demandnounUS /dɪˈmænd/

an urgent or peremptory request

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

drinksnounUS /drɪŋks/

plural of “drink” — a single serving of a beverage

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

Gareth

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

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

hardihoodnoun

the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

KingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

kneesnounUS /niːz/

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

knightnounUS /naɪt/

originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

LancelotnounUS /ˈlænsəlɑːt/

(Arthurian legend) one of the knights of the Round Table; friend of King Arthur until (according to some versions of the legend) he became the lover of Arthur's wife Guinevere

From this reading “Let Lancelot know, my King, let Lancelot know, Thy noblest and thy truest!”

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Let Lancelot know, my King, let Lancelot know, Thy noblest and thy truest!”

lightlyadverbUS /ˈlaɪtli/

without good reason

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

masternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

meatsnounUS /miːts/

plural of “meat” — the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

mellowadjectiveUS /ˈmeloʊ/

unhurried and relaxed

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

needsadverbUS /niːdz/

in such a manner as could not be otherwise

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

noblestadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊblɪst/

superlative of “noble” — impressive in appearance

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/

the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

promiseverbUS /ˈprɑːməs/

make a promise or commitment

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

Seneschalnoun

the chief steward or butler of a great household

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

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

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

springingverbUS /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/

-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees, “My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.

ThydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading “Let Lancelot know, my King, let Lancelot know, Thy noblest and thy truest!”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

truestadjectiveUS /ˈtruːɪst/

superlative of “true” — consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

uttermostadjective

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

willingadjectiveUS /ˈwɪlɪŋ/

disposed or inclined toward

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

wot

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

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

yepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading For uttermost obedience make demand Of whom ye gave me to, the Seneschal, No mellow master of the meats and drinks!

yeaexclamationUS /jeɪ/

an old word for “yes”

From this reading And the King “Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he, Our noblest brother, and our truest man, And one with me in all, he needs must know.”

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading And as for love, God wot, I love not yet, But love I shall, God willing.”

Chapter 4 of Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson, Baron Tennyson holds 94 sentences, grouped into 19 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 4 of Idylls of the King contain?

Chapter 4 holds 94 sentences of Idylls of the King, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson, Baron Tennyson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 94 sentences, grouped into 19 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 Idylls of the King?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 Idylls of the King

Common questions about reading Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson, Baron Tennyson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Idylls of the King?

Yes. All 2493 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #610 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Idylls of the King is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #610, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Idylls of the King take to read?

About 207 minutes of reading across 499 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Idylls of the King section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of Idylls of the King 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 Idylls of the King

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

Regum
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Idylls of the King; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Arthurus
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Idylls of the King; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Joseph
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Idylls of the King; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Exeter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Idylls of the King; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.