Chapter 2 of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) is here in full — 393 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) is here in full — 393 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
[139] [ready.] [140] [they began to go forth.] [141] [shown.] [142] [much strength.] [143] [best defend his body.]
Chapter 2 of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) is here in full — 393 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “[140] [they began to go forth.]”
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “[143] [best defend his body.]”
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading “[143] [best defend his body.]”
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading “[143] [best defend his body.]”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “[140] [they began to go forth.]”
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading “[139] [ready.]”
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “[141] [shown.]”
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading “[142] [much strength.]”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
go away from a place
In this reading “[140] [they began to go forth.]”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [139] [ready.]
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [140] [they began to go forth.]
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [141] [shown.]
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [142] [much strength.]
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [143] [best defend his body.]
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading [140] [they began to go forth.]
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading [143] [best defend his body.]
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading [143] [best defend his body.]
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading [143] [best defend his body.]
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading [140] [they began to go forth.]
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading [140] [they began to go forth.]
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading [143] [best defend his body.]
to a great degree or extent
From this reading [142] [much strength.]
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading [139] [ready.]
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading [141] [shown.]
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading [142] [much strength.]
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading [140] [they began to go forth.]
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading [140] [they began to go forth.]
Chapter 2 of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) by Thomas [Editor] Percy holds 393 sentences, grouped into 79 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.
Chapter 2 holds 393 sentences of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3), unabridged, divided into 79 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) by Thomas [Editor] Percy exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 393 sentences, grouped into 79 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.
Work through the 79 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 79 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.
Common questions about reading Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) by Thomas [Editor] Percy on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5438 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45940 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #45940, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 453 minutes of reading across 1088 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3) to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 2 (of 3), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
