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Idylls of the King
Idylls of the King

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Idylls of the King is here in full — 95 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Idylls of the King
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.
Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.
Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.
But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.
And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.
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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 XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Idylls of the King is here in full — 95 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.
Line 2
Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thoughtThe sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.
Line 3
Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.
Line 4
But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.
Line 5
And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

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.

Alone adjective US /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading “But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.”

All words in this reading · 106

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.

a

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

About

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

across

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

all

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

And

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

From this reading “And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.

armour

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

arms

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

as

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

Before

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

Being

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

blind

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

but

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

came

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

casque

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

city

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

crown

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

crush

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

down

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

dust

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

embrace

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

everywhere

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

fell

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

field

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

flashed

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

flashing

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

found

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

gleam

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

glittered

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

gold

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

golden

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

greater

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

From this reading “And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.

had

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

he

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

heaven

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

her

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

hill

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

him

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

his

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

horse

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

huge

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

I

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

From this reading “And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.

in

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

incredible

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

into

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

is

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

it

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

jewelled

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

jewels

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

knew

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

land

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

left

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

lo

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

Lord

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

me

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

meant

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

mighty

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

milking

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

milkmaid

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

moved

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

moving

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

my

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

From this reading “And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.

not

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

of

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

on

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

From this reading “And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.

one

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

Opened

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

pail

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

pinnacles

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

plowing

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

plowman

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

plowshare

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

Pricked

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

risen

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

rising

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

rode

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

From this reading “And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.

sand

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

seemed

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

smote

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

so

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

spires

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

splendour

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

sun

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

that

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

the

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

Then

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

thirst

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

From this reading “And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.

thorns

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

though

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

thought

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

to

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

too

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

top

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

touched

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

up

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

walled

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

From this reading “And I rode on and found a mighty hill, And on the top, a city walled: the spires Pricked with incredible pinnacles into heaven.

ware

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

was

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

From this reading “And on I rode, and greater was my thirst.

wearying

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

went

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

when

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

From this reading But when I thought he meant To crush me, moving on me, lo! he, too, Opened his arms to embrace me as he came, And up I went and touched him, and he, too, Fell into dust, and I was left alone And wearying in a land of sand and thorns.

where

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

why

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

with

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

From this reading Then was I ware of one that on me moved In golden armour with a crown of gold About a casque all jewels; and his horse In golden armour jewelled everywhere: And on the splendour came, flashing me blind; And seemed to me the Lord of all the world, Being so huge.

world

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

yellow

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

From this reading Then flashed a yellow gleam across the world, And where it smote the plowshare in the field, The plowman left his plowing, and fell down Before it; where it glittered on her pail, The milkmaid left her milking, and fell down Before it, and I knew not why, but thought ‘The sun is rising,’ though the sun had risen.

Chapter 20 of Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson, Baron Tennyson holds 95 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 20 of Idylls of the King contain?

Chapter 20 holds 95 sentences of Idylls of the King, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 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 95 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 20 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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.