Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Legends and Lyrics. Part 1
Legends and Lyrics. Part 1

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 is here in full — 101 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Legends and Lyrics. Part 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;
If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;
If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;
And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;
Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.
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.

Legends and Lyrics. Part 1

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 is here in full — 101 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;
/waɪl wɪð streɪndʒ dɪˈstɔːrtəd tʃɔɪs stɪl dɪsˈdeɪnɪŋ tuː rɪˈdʒɔɪs ðaʊ wɪlt hiːr ə ˈweɪlɪŋ vɔɪs/
Line 2
If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;
/ɪf ə ˈsɪmpəl ˈhʌmbəl hɑːrt siːm tuː ðiː ə ˈmiːnər pɑːrt ðæn ðaɪ ˈnoʊblɪst eɪm ənd ɑːrt/
Line 3
If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;
/ɪf hiː bɪd ðiː baʊ bɪˈfɔːr kraʊnd maɪnd ənd ˈnʌθɪŋ mɔːr ðə ɡreɪt ˈaɪdəl men əˈdɔːr/
Line 4
And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;
/ənd wɪð ˈstɑːriː veɪl ɪnˈfoʊld sɪn ðə ˈtreɪlɪŋ ˈsɜːrpənt oʊld tɪl hɪz skeɪlz ʃaɪn aʊt laɪk ɡoʊld/
Line 5
Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

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.

adore verb US /əˈdɔːr/

love intensely

From this reading “If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;”

disdaining verb US /dɪsˈdeɪnɪŋ/

-ing form of “disdain” — look down on with disdain

From this reading “While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;”

distorted adjective US /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/

so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly

From this reading “While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;”

enfold verb US /ɪnˈfoʊld/

enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering

From this reading “And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;”

meaner adjective US /ˈmiːnər/

comparative of “mean” — approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

From this reading “If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;”

scales noun US /skeɪlz/

plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard

From this reading “And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;”

starry adjective US /ˈstɑːriː/

abounding with or resembling stars

From this reading “And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;”

trailing noun US /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/

the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind

From this reading “And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;”

All words in this reading · 64

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

adoreverbUS /əˈdɔːr/

love intensely

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

aimverbUS /eɪm/

point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

AriseverbUS /ərˈaɪz/

come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

bidverbUS /bɪd/

propose a payment

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

bownounUS /baʊ/

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

choicenounUS /tʃɔɪs/

the person or thing chosen or selected

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

CrownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/

having an (artificial) crown on a tooth

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

disdainingverbUS /dɪsˈdeɪnɪŋ/

-ing form of “disdain” — look down on with disdain

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

distortedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/

so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

enfoldverbUS /ɪnˈfoʊld/

enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

humbleadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmbəl/

low or inferior in station or quality

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

idolnounUS /ˈaɪdəl/

a material effigy that is worshipped

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

meaneradjectiveUS /ˈmiːnər/

comparative of “mean” — approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

MindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

noblestadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊblɪst/

superlative of “noble” — impressive in appearance

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

rejoiceverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪs/

feel happiness or joy

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

scalesnounUS /skeɪlz/

plural of “scale” — an ordered reference standard

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

SeemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/

limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/

be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

SinnounUS /sɪn/

estrangement from god

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

SoulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

starryadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːriː/

abounding with or resembling stars

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

StilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

ThanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading If he bid thee bow before Crowned Mind and nothing more, The great idol men adore;

theepronounUS /ðiː/

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

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

ThoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

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

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

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

From this reading If a simple, humble heart, Seem to thee a meaner part, Than thy noblest aim and art;

TillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/

the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

veilnounUS /veɪl/

a garment that covers the head and face

From this reading And with starry veil enfold Sin, the trailing serpent old, Till his scales shine out like gold;

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/

loud cries made while weeping

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

wiltmodal verbUS /wɪlt/

an old form of “will”, used with “thou”

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading While with strange distorted choice, Still disdaining to rejoice, Thou wilt hear a wailing voice;

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Though his words seem true and wise, Soul, I say to thee--Arise.

Chapter 3 of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 by Adelaide Anne Procter holds 101 sentences, grouped into 21 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 3 of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 contain?

Chapter 3 holds 101 sentences of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 by Adelaide Anne Procter exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 101 sentences, grouped into 21 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 3 of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Legends and Lyrics. Part 1

Common questions about reading Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 by Adelaide Anne Procter on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1?

Yes. All 1261 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2303 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2303, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 take to read?

About 105 minutes of reading across 253 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 section by section

How to work through Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1 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 Legends and Lyrics. Part 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in Legends and Lyrics. Part 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Matilda
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tokens
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Barbarous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lifeless
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Legends and Lyrics. Part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.