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Mazeppa
Mazeppa

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of Mazeppa is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Mazeppa
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.
‘It is foolish,’ she said, ‘and dangerous.
What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.
Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.
Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Mazeppa

Chapter XVIII

Chapter 18 of Mazeppa is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.
Line 2
‘It is foolish,’ she said, ‘and dangerous.
/ɪt ɪz ˈfuːlɪʃ ʃiː sed ənd ˈdeɪndʒərəs/
Line 3
What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.
/wʌt ɪf ðə zɑːr ʃʊd siː miː ənd seɪ ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɔːr ˈiːvɪn lʊk ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɔːl wʊd ðen biː lɔːst/
Line 4
Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.
/rɪˈmɛm.bər aɪ wʊd daɪ ˈræðər ðæn biː ˈtʃoʊzən baɪ hɪm/
Line 5
Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

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.

agitated adjective US /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/

troubled emotionally and usually deeply

From this reading “I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.”

chosen noun US /ˈtʃoʊzən/

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading “Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.”

disinclined adjective US /ˌdɪsɪnˈklaɪnd/

unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval

From this reading “I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.”

Duchess noun US /ˈdʌtʃəs/

the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right

From this reading “Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?”

forgets verb US /fərˈɡets/

third-person singular of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading “Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?”

Moreover adverb US /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading “Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?”

suggestion noun US /səˈdʒestʃən/

an idea that is suggested

From this reading “I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.”

Tsar noun US /zɑːr/

a male monarch or emperor (especially of Russia prior to 1917)

From this reading “What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.”

All words in this reading · 57

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.

acceptverbUS /ækˈsept/

consider or hold as true

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/

troubled emotionally and usually deeply

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

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 What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.

chosennounUS /ˈtʃoʊzən/

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.

dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm

From this reading ‘It is foolish,’ she said, ‘and dangerous.

dieverbUS /daɪ/

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.

disinclinedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsɪnˈklaɪnd/

unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

DuchessnounUS /ˈdʌtʃəs/

the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/

with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

foolishadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪʃ/

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading ‘It is foolish,’ she said, ‘and dangerous.

forgetsverbUS /fərˈɡets/

third-person singular of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

GrandadjectiveUS /ɡrænd/

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading ‘It is foolish,’ she said, ‘and dangerous.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ‘It is foolish,’ she said, ‘and dangerous.

Kurbatof

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

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

Mazeppa

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

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

Mazeppa's

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

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

messagenounUS /ˈmesədʒ/

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

MoreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.

RememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading ‘It is foolish,’ she said, ‘and dangerous.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading ‘It is foolish,’ she said, ‘and dangerous.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

suggestionnounUS /səˈdʒestʃən/

an idea that is suggested

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Remember, I would die rather than be chosen by him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Moreover, does Mazeppa think that the Grand Duchess forgets so easily?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

TsarnounUS /zɑːr/

a male monarch or emperor (especially of Russia prior to 1917)

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

Vera

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

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I took Mazeppa’s message to Vera Kurbatof, but Vera was agitated and disinclined to accept the suggestion of my friend.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading What if the Tsar should see me and say something, or even look something? all would then be lost.

Chapter 18 of Mazeppa by Frederick Whishaw holds 123 sentences, grouped into 25 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 18 of Mazeppa contain?

Chapter 18 holds 123 sentences of Mazeppa, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Mazeppa by Frederick Whishaw exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 123 sentences, grouped into 25 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 Mazeppa?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 Mazeppa

Common questions about reading Mazeppa by Frederick Whishaw on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Mazeppa?

Yes. All 3441 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #56522 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Mazeppa is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #56522, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Mazeppa take to read?

About 286 minutes of reading across 689 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Mazeppa section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Mazeppa 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 Mazeppa

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

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mazeppa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Crown
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mazeppa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cloth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mazeppa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Forbidden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mazeppa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.