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Measure for Measure
Measure for Measure

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Measure for Measure is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Measure for Measure
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Ang.
Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.
So Ang.
And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.
True Ang.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Measure for Measure

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Measure for Measure is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Ang.
/æŋ/
Line 2
Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.
Line 3
So Ang.
/soʊ æŋ/
Line 4
And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.
Line 5
True Ang.
/truː æŋ/

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.

Accountant noun US /əˈkaʊntənt/

someone who maintains and audits business accounts

From this reading “And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.”

Ang noun US /æŋ/

a civilian reserve component of the United States Air Force that provides prompt mobilization during war and assistance during national emergencies

From this reading “Ang.”

doth auxiliary verb US /dɔːθ/

an old form of “does”

From this reading “Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.”

dye verb US /daɪ/

color with dye

From this reading “Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.”

Law noun US /lɔː/

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading “And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.”

louder adjective US /ˈlaʊdər/

comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading “Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.”

paine noun US /peɪn/

American Revolutionary leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1731-1814)

From this reading “And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.”

wishes noun US /ˈwɪʃɪz/

plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire

From this reading “Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

AccountantnounUS /əˈkaʊntənt/

someone who maintains and audits business accounts

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

AngnounUS /æŋ/

a civilian reserve component of the United States Air Force that provides prompt mobilization during war and assistance during national emergencies

From this reading Ang.

appeare

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

appeares

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

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

blacke

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

BrothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

displaied

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

dothauxiliary verbUS /dɔːθ/

an old form of “does”

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

dyeverbUS /daɪ/

color with dye

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

en-shield

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

grosse

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

Ile

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

Isab

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

LawnounUS /lɔː/

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

louderadjectiveUS /ˈlaʊdər/

comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

marke

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

Masques

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

offencenoun

the action of attacking an enemy

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

painenounUS /peɪn/

American Revolutionary leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1731-1814)

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

plaine

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

Proclaime

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

receiued

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

selfe

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So Ang.

speake

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

taxe

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

ThusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

TrueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading True Ang.

vpon

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

From this reading And his offence is so, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine Isab.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

wisdome

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

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

wishesnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪz/

plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Thus wisdome wishes to appeare most bright, When it doth taxe it selfe: As these blacke Masques Proclaime an en-shield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could displaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile speake more grosse: Your Brother is to dye Isab.

Chapter 4 of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare holds 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 4 of Measure for Measure contain?

Chapter 4 holds 163 sentences of Measure for Measure, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 4 of Measure for Measure?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Measure for Measure

Common questions about reading Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Measure for Measure?

Yes. All 1487 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1126 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Measure for Measure is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1126, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Measure for Measure take to read?

About 123 minutes of reading across 298 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Measure for Measure section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of Measure for Measure 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 Measure for Measure

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

Addition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Measure for Measure; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Notes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Measure for Measure; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Below
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Measure for Measure; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Think
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Measure for Measure; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.