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Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold
Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold is here in full — 325 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/65 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?
Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.
He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!
What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.
But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!
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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.

Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold is here in full — 325 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/65 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?
Line 2
Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.
Line 3
He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!
/hiː ˈhɑːrkənz nɑːt laɪt ˈkʌmər hiː ɪz floʊn/
Line 4
What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.
Line 5
But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

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.

carnations noun US /kɑːrˈneɪʃənz/

plural of “carnation” — Eurasian plant with pink to purple-red spice-scented usually double flowers; widely cultivated in many varieties and many colors

From this reading “Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.”

comer noun US /ˈkʌmər/

someone with a promising future

From this reading “He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!”

fern noun US /fɜːrn/

any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores

From this reading “What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.”

hearkens verb US /ˈhɑːrkənz/

third-person singular of “hearken” — listen; used mostly in the imperative

From this reading “He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!”

musk noun US /mʌsk/

an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer; used as a perfume fixative

From this reading “Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.”

smoother noun US /ˈsmuːðər/

a power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motor

From this reading “But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!”

snapdragon noun US /ˈsnæpdræɡən/

a garden plant of the genus Antirrhinum having showy white or yellow or crimson flowers resembling the face of a dragon

From this reading “Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.”

whitening noun US /ˈwaɪtɪnɪŋ/

changing to a lighter color

From this reading “What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.”

All words in this reading · 101

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 But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

afaradverbUS /əˈfɑːr/

(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

alleysnounUS /ˈæliz/

plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

blowverbUS /bloʊ/

exhale hard

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

blue-bells

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

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

breakverbUS /breɪk/

terminate

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

carnationsnounUS /kɑːrˈneɪʃənz/

plural of “carnation” — Eurasian plant with pink to purple-red spice-scented usually double flowers; widely cultivated in many varieties and many colors

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

comernounUS /ˈkʌmər/

someone with a promising future

From this reading He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!

conquer'd

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

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

Corydon

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

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

cottage-smell

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

cutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

despairer

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

From this reading Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/

imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

evening-star

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

fernnounUS /fɜːrn/

any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

flownverbUS /floʊn/

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

forest-ways

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

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

fragrantadjectiveUS /ˈfreɪɡrənt/

pleasant-smelling

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

garden-trees

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?

gold-dusted

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/

plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

haynounUS /heɪ/

grass mowed and cured for use as fodder

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!

hearkensverbUS /ˈhɑːrkənz/

third-person singular of “hearken” — listen; used mostly in the imperative

From this reading He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!

hedgesnounUS /ˈhedʒɪz/

plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

heednounUS /hiːd/

paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

homelyadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmli/

lacking in physical beauty or proportion

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

jasmine-muffled

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

lattices

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!

mattersnounUS /ˈmætərz/

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

MidsummernounUS /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/

June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

moonnounUS /muːn/

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

musknounUS /mʌsk/

an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer; used as a perfume fixative

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

new-mownadjective

newly mown

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He hearkens not! light comer, he is flown!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

pomps

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?

reednounUS /riːd/

tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

RosesnounUS /ˈroʊzɪz/

plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

scentnounUS /sɛnt/

A distinctive smell or aroma.

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/

be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

smoothernounUS /ˈsmuːðər/

a power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motor

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

snapdragonnounUS /ˈsnæpdræɡən/

a garden plant of the genus Antirrhinum having showy white or yellow or crimson flowers resembling the face of a dragon

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

SoonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

spring-days

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

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

stocksnounUS /stɑːks/

a frame that supports a boat while it is under construction

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

strainnounUS /streɪn/

(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

swains

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

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

Sweet-William

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

swellverbUS /swel/

increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

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

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

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

From this reading Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?

Thyrsis

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

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

TimenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

TooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?

tremblingnounUS /ˈtrembəlɪŋ/

a shaky motion

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

uncrumpling

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

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

whereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/

an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”

From this reading Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

whiteningnounUS /ˈwaɪtɪnɪŋ/

changing to a lighter color

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

wiltmodal verbUS /wɪlt/

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

From this reading Too quick despairer, wherefore wilt thou go?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on, Soon will the musk carnations break and swell, Soon shall we have gold-dusted snapdragon, Sweet-William with his homely cottage-smell, And stocks in fragrant blow; Roses that down the alleys shine afar, And open, jasmine-muffled lattices, And groups under the dreaming garden-trees, And the full moon, and the white evening-star.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading But Thyrsis never more we swains shall see; See him come back, and cut a smoother reed, And blow a strain the world at last shall heed-- For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer'd thee!

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading What matters it? next year he will return, And we shall have him in the sweet spring-days, With whitening hedges, and uncrumpling fern, And blue-bells trembling by the forest-ways, And scent of hay new-mown.

Chapter 8 of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold by Matthew Arnold holds 325 sentences, grouped into 65 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 8 of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold contain?

Chapter 8 holds 325 sentences of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold, unabridged, divided into 65 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold by Matthew Arnold exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 325 sentences, grouped into 65 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 8 of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold?

Work through the 65 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 65 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold

Common questions about reading Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold by Matthew Arnold on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold?

Yes. All 4389 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27739 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #27739, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold take to read?

About 365 minutes of reading across 878 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold section by section

How to work through Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold 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 Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold

Words and structures a reader meets early in Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Lesson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nature
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Learn
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Every
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.