Chapter 2 of Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts is here in full — 395 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts is here in full — 395 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
BER. Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection. What followed? JOAN. As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
Chapter 2 of Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts is here in full — 395 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
From this reading “Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.”
spreading by diffusion
From this reading “As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."”
defying expression or description
From this reading “As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."”
a city on the Loire river in north central France; site of the siege of Orleans by the English (1428-1429)
From this reading “As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."”
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading “As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."”
erect leafless flower stalk growing directly from the ground as in a tulip
From this reading “Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.”
only a very short time before
From this reading “Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.”
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading “As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."”
In this reading “As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."”
In this reading “Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.”
In this reading “As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."”
In this reading “Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BER.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
make calm or still
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
spreading by diffusion
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading What followed?
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
a long fixed look
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
defying expression or description
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOAN.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
in order that something should not happen
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
a city on the Loire river in north central France; site of the siege of Orleans by the English (1428-1429)
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
erect leafless flower stalk growing directly from the ground as in a tulip
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
only a very short time before
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What followed?
at the time that
From this reading As I lay soft music fell Upon my ear, diffusing calm ineffable, When thus a voice pronounc'd--"Go, raise the siege Of Orleans."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Scarce have I drawn my breath, lest one brief word Should 'scape my ear; and now I gaze on thee Almost with awe, temp'ring my fond affection.
Chapter 2 of Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts by J. A. (Jane Alice) Sargant holds 395 sentences, grouped into 79 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.
Chapter 2 holds 395 sentences of Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts, unabridged, divided into 79 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts by J. A. (Jane Alice) Sargant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 395 sentences, grouped into 79 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.
Work through the 79 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 79 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts by J. A. (Jane Alice) Sargant on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2286 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35837 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #35837, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 190 minutes of reading across 458 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Joan of Arc: A Play in Five Acts, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
