Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Lucretia — Complete
Lucretia — Complete

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of Lucretia — Complete is here in full — 218 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Lucretia — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.
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.

Lucretia — Complete

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of Lucretia — Complete is here in full — 218 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.
Line 2
It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.
Line 3
It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.
Line 4
Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.
Line 5
Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

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.

abstraction noun US /æbˈstrækʃən/

a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance

From this reading “Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.”

constitutes verb US /ˈkɑːnstətuːts/

third-person singular of “constitute” — form or compose

From this reading “It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.”

Dante noun US /ˈdɑːnteɪ/

an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)

From this reading “Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.”

dullest adjective US /ˈdʌləst/

superlative of “dull” — lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading “It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.”

liveliest adjective US /ˈlaɪvliːəst/

superlative of “lively” — full of life and energy

From this reading “It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.”

quickest adverb US /ˈkwɪkɪst/

most quickly

From this reading “It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.”

sinks noun US /sɪŋks/

plural of “sink” — plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe

From this reading “Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.”

sleeper noun US /ˈsliːpər/

a rester who is sleeping

From this reading “Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.”

All words in this reading · 105

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 Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/

marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

abstractionnounUS /æbˈstrækʃən/

a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

alikeadverbUS /əˈlaɪk/

equally

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/

past form of “arrest” — take into custody

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

awakes

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

beatverbUS /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/

the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

Cobbett

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

constitutesverbUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːts/

third-person singular of “constitute” — form or compose

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

cottage-door

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

DantenounUS /ˈdɑːnteɪ/

an Italian poet famous for writing the Divine Comedy that describes a journey through Hell and purgatory and paradise guided by Virgil and his idealized Beatrice (1265-1321)

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/

superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/

in a dim indistinct manner

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

dullestadjectiveUS /ˈdʌləst/

superlative of “dull” — lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

experienceverbUS /ɪkˈspɪriəns/

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

flashverbUS /flæʃ/

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

flashedverbUS /flæʃt/

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

gazenounUS /ɡeɪz/

a long fixed look

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

hardestadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdəst/

superlative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

homeliest

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

house-work

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpəls/

an instinctive motive

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/

incapable of being explained or accounted for

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

instinctnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/

inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

lightningnounUS /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/

abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

liveliestadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvliːəst/

superlative of “lively” — full of life and energy

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/

being nothing more than specified

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

namelessadjectiveUS /ˈneɪm.ləs/

Having no name, or having a name that is kept secret or unknown.

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

Percival

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

PlainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

quickestadverbUS /ˈkwɪkɪst/

most quickly

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/

with speed

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

recognitionnounUS /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/

the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

revealedverbUS /rɪˈviːld/

past form of “reveal” — make visible

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

seeingnounUS /ˈsiːɪŋ/

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

sinksnounUS /sɪŋks/

plural of “sink” — plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

sleepernounUS /ˈsliːpər/

a rester who is sleeping

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

St

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

streamsnounUS /striːmz/

plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

SuddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

sympathynounUS /ˈsɪmpəθi/

an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/

feeling intense pleasurable excitement

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

typesnounUS /taɪps/

plural of “type” — a subdivision of a particular kind of thing

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

visionnounUS /ˈvɪʒən/

a vivid mental image

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was as a recognition of something seen dimly before,--a truth coming out from a dream.

WhateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Whatever of love sinks the deepest is felt at first sight; it streams on us abrupt from the cloud, a lightning flash,--a destiny revealed to us face to face.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was not the mere beauty of that face (and beautiful it was) that arrested his eye and made his heart beat more quickly, it was rather that nameless and inexplicable sympathy which constitutes love at first sight,--a sort of impulse and instinct common to the dullest as the quickest, the hardest reason as the liveliest fancy.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Plain Cobbett, seeing before the cottage-door, at her homeliest of house-work, the girl of whom he said, “That girl should be my wife,” and Dante, first thrilled by the vision of Beatrice,--are alike true types of a common experience.

wokeverbUS /woʊk/

inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading Suddenly across the gaze of Percival St. John there flashed a face that woke him from his abstraction, as a light awakes the sleeper.

Chapter 12 of Lucretia — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 218 sentences, grouped into 44 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 12 of Lucretia — Complete contain?

Chapter 12 holds 218 sentences of Lucretia — Complete, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Lucretia — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 218 sentences, grouped into 44 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 12 of Lucretia — Complete?

Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 44 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Lucretia — Complete

Common questions about reading Lucretia — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Lucretia — Complete?

Yes. All 7076 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7691 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Lucretia — Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7691, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Lucretia — Complete take to read?

About 589 minutes of reading across 1416 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Lucretia — Complete section by section

How to work through Lucretia — Complete section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 38 chapters of Lucretia — Complete 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 Lucretia — Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in Lucretia — Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Evening
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lucretia — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Commencement
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lucretia — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Present
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lucretia — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Century
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lucretia — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.