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Love Eternal
Love Eternal

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Love Eternal is here in full — 194 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.
For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.
Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.
Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.
Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Love Eternal

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Love Eternal is here in full — 194 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.
Line 2
For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.
/fɔːr blɪs ɪt wɑːz seɪv ˈoʊnli ðæt ðer wɑːz əˈnʌðər blɪs bɪˈɑːnd tuː biː əˈteɪnd/
Line 3
Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.
/rɪˈmɛm.bər ðæt ðɪs mæn naʊ əˈproʊtʃɪŋ ˈmɪdəl laɪf hæd ˈnevər drʌŋk ʌv ðə kʌp ʌv wʌt ɪz noʊn æz lʌv əˈpɑːn ðə ɜːrθ/
Line 4
Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.
/sʌm maɪt ˈænsər ðæt sʌtʃ ɪz ðə ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl ɪkˈspɪriəns ðæt truː kəmˈpliːt lʌv hæz noʊ eɡˈzɪstəns ɪkˈsept ɪt biː ðæt lʌv ʌv ɡɑːd tuː wɪtʃ ə fjuː æt læst əˈteɪn sɪns ɪn wʌt wiː noʊ æz ɡɑːd kəmˈpliːtnəs ənd ˈæbsəluːt ˈjuːnəti kæn biː faʊnd əˈloʊn/
Line 5
Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

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.

attain verb US /əˈteɪn/

to gain with effort

From this reading “Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.”

attained adjective US /əˈteɪnd/

achieved or reached

From this reading “For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.”

bliss noun US /blɪs/

a state of extreme happiness

From this reading “MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.”

completeness noun US /kəmˈpliːtnəs/

the state of being complete and entire; having everything that is needed

From this reading “Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.”

exception noun US /ɪkˈsepʃən/

a deliberate act of omission

From this reading “Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.”

flaws noun US /flɔːz/

plural of “flaw” — an imperfection in an object or machine

From this reading “Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.”

fondly adverb US /ˈfɑːndli/

with fondness; with love

From this reading “Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.”

unity noun US /ˈjuːnəti/

an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting

From this reading “Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

absoluteadjectiveUS /ˈæbsəluːt/

perfect or complete or pure

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

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 Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

answerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

approachingnounUS /əˈproʊtʃɪŋ/

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

atmospherenounUS /ˈætməsfɪr/

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

attainverbUS /əˈteɪn/

to gain with effort

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

attainedadjectiveUS /əˈteɪnd/

achieved or reached

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

blissnounUS /blɪs/

a state of extreme happiness

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

completenessnounUS /kəmˈpliːtnəs/

the state of being complete and entire; having everything that is needed

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

cupnounUS /kʌp/

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

cureverbUS /kjʊr/

provide a cure for, make healthy again

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

drunkadjectiveUS /drʌŋk/

stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/

a deliberate act of omission

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/

the state or fact of existing

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

experienceverbUS /ɪkˈspɪriəns/

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

flawsnounUS /flɔːz/

plural of “flaw” — an imperfection in an object or machine

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

fondlyadverbUS /ˈfɑːndli/

with fondness; with love

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

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 Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

Godfrey's

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

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

imagineverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒən/

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

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

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

lovesnounUS /lʌvz/

plural of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

MARRIAGEnounUS /ˈmerɪdʒ/

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

middlenounUS /ˈmɪdəl/

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

OtheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

RememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading For bliss it was, save only that there was another bliss beyond to be attained.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

unchangeableadjective

not changeable or subject to change

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

unitynounUS /ˈjuːnəti/

an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/

of worldwide scope or applicability

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading MARRIAGE In that atmosphere of perfect bliss Godfrey’s cure was quick.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Remember that this man, now approaching middle life, had never drunk of the cup of what is known as love upon the earth.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Some might answer that such is the universal experience; that true, complete love has no existence, except it be that love of God to which a few at last attain, since in what we know as God completeness and absolute unity can be found alone.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Other loves all have their flaws, with one exception perhaps, that of the love of the dead which fondly we imagine to be unchangeable.

Chapter 18 of Love Eternal by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard holds 194 sentences, grouped into 39 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 18 of Love Eternal contain?

Chapter 18 holds 194 sentences of Love Eternal, unabridged, divided into 39 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Love Eternal by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 194 sentences, grouped into 39 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 18 of Love Eternal?

Work through the 39 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 39 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 Love Eternal

Common questions about reading Love Eternal by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Love Eternal?

Yes. All 4863 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3709 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Love Eternal is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3709, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Love Eternal take to read?

About 405 minutes of reading across 973 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Love Eternal section by section

How to work through Love Eternal section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 20 chapters of Love Eternal 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 Love Eternal

Words and structures a reader meets early in Love Eternal, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Whole
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Love Eternal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Suited
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Love Eternal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Knight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Love Eternal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fairly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Love Eternal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.