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Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia
Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Chapter XXXVII · Chapter 37

Chapter 37 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is here in full — 39 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia
Context Illustration Reading 1/7 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THEY DISCOURSE WITH AN OLD MAN.
THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.
As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.
Yonder,” said he, is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.
Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Chapter XXXVII · Chapter 37

Chapter 37 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is here in full — 39 sentences across 8 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/7 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THEY DISCOURSE WITH AN OLD MAN.
Line 2
THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.
Line 3
As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.
Line 4
Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.
Line 5
Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

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.

Alone adjective US /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading “Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.””

All words in this reading · 86

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.

a

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

along

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

AN

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

From this reading THEY DISCOURSE WITH AN OLD MAN.

and

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

any

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

are

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

As

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

assembly

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

at

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

banks

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

beams

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

better

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

but

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

by

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

calmed

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

close

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

clouded

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

delighted

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

DISCOURSE

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

From this reading THEY DISCOURSE WITH AN OLD MAN.

disquisitions

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

distance

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

evening

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

far

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

for

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

had

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

have

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

he

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

heard

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

his

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

home

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

hope

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

in

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

inquiring

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

is

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

know

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

latter

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

Let

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

life

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

MAN

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

From this reading THEY DISCOURSE WITH AN OLD MAN.

may

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

moon

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

night

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

Nile

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

not

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

now

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

of

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

often

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

OLD

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

From this reading THEY DISCOURSE WITH AN OLD MAN.

on

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

one

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

own

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

part

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

passions

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

past

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

Prince

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

quivering

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

reason

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

remains

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

return

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

rose

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

sages

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

said

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

saw

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

sentiments

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

small

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

state

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

struggle

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

that

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

THE

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

THEY

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

From this reading THEY DISCOURSE WITH AN OLD MAN.

to

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

us

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

vexation

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

walked

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

was

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

From this reading THE evening was now far past, and they rose to return home.

water

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

we

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

what

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

whether

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

whom

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

From this reading As they walked along the banks of the Nile, delighted with the beams of the moon quivering on the water, they saw at a small distance an old man whom the Prince had often heard in the assembly of the sages.

whose

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

WITH

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

From this reading THEY DISCOURSE WITH AN OLD MAN.

years

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

Yonder

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

From this reading “Yonder,” said he, “is one whose years have calmed his passions, but not clouded his reason.

youth

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

From this reading Let us close the disquisitions of the night by inquiring what are his sentiments of his own state, that we may know whether youth alone is to struggle with vexation, and whether any better hope remains for the latter part of life.”

Chapter 37 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson holds 39 sentences, grouped into 8 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 37 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia contain?

Chapter 37 holds 39 sentences of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, unabridged, divided into 8 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 37 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 39 sentences, grouped into 8 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 37 of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia?

Work through the 8 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 8 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 37 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 37 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 Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Common questions about reading Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia?

Yes. All 1438 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #652 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #652, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia take to read?

About 119 minutes of reading across 288 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia section by section

How to work through Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

Words and structures a reader meets early in Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Description
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Palace
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Valley
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Listen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.