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Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background
Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background is here in full — 254 sentences across 51 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mungo William, Sir MacCallum • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.
ATTRACTION OF THE SUBJECT FOR SHAKESPEARE AND HIS GENERATION.
INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.
Some of the evidence for this is partly external in character.
(1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:
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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.

Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background is here in full — 254 sentences across 51 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.
/pəˈzɪʃən ʌv ðə pleɪ bɪˈtwiːn ðə ˈhɪstəriz ənd ðə ˈtrædʒədiz/
Line 2
ATTRACTION OF THE SUBJECT FOR SHAKESPEARE AND HIS GENERATION.
/əˈtrækʃən ʌv ðə səbˈdʒekt fɔːr ˈʃeɪkspiːr ənd hɪz ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
Line 3
INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.
Line 4
Some of the evidence for this is partly external in character.
/sʌm ʌv ðə ˈevədəns fɔːr ðɪs ɪz ˈpɑːrtli ɪkˈstɜːrnəl ɪn ˈkerɪktər/
Line 5
(1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

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.

approximate verb US /əˈprɑːksəmət/

be close or similar

From this reading “INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Folio noun US /ˈfoʊliːoʊ/

the system of numbering pages

From this reading “INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
histories noun US /ˈhɪstəriz/

plural of “history” — the aggregate of past events

From this reading “POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
indebtedness noun US /ˌɪnˈdetɪdnɪs/

an obligation to pay money to another party

From this reading “INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
miscellany noun US /ˈmɪsəleɪni/

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading “(1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seventeenth adjective US /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/

coming next after the sixteenth in position

From this reading “INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Shakespeare's noun US /ˈʃeɪkspiːrz/

possessive form of “shakespeare” — English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tragedies noun US /ˈtrædʒədiz/

plural of “tragedy” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading “POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

seventeenth century adjective + noun

In this reading “INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.”

2,170 times in 426,211 chapters
seven years noun + noun

In this reading “INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.”

8,738 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 71

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.

1

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

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

Pending verification
1603

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

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

Pending verification
1623

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

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AlthoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
approximateverbUS /əˈprɑːksəmət/

be close or similar

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ATTRACTIONnounUS /əˈtrækʃən/

the force by which one object attracts another

From this reading ATTRACTION OF THE SUBJECT FOR SHAKESPEARE AND HIS GENERATION.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BETWEENprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CaesarnounUS /ˈsiːzər/

conqueror of Gaul and master of Italy (100-44 BC)

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
centurynounUS /ˈsentʃəri/

a period of 100 years

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Some of the evidence for this is partly external in character.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/

the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
datenounUS /deɪt/

the specified day of the month

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ElizabethnounUS /ɪˈlɪzəbəθ/

daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
entitledadjectiveUS /enˈtaɪtəld/

qualified for by right according to law

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
evidencenounUS /ˈevədəns/

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading Some of the evidence for this is partly external in character.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
externaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɜːrnəl/

happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface

From this reading Some of the evidence for this is partly external in character.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FolionounUS /ˈfoʊliːoʊ/

the system of numbering pages

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading ATTRACTION OF THE SUBJECT FOR SHAKESPEARE AND HIS GENERATION.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
GENERATIONnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/

all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading ATTRACTION OF THE SUBJECT FOR SHAKESPEARE AND HIS GENERATION.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading ATTRACTION OF THE SUBJECT FOR SHAKESPEARE AND HIS GENERATION.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HISTORIESnounUS /ˈhɪstəriz/

plural of “history” — the aggregate of past events

From this reading POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
INDEBTEDNESSnounUS /ˌɪnˈdetɪdnɪs/

an obligation to pay money to another party

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JoynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Julius

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

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Pending verification
linesnounUS /laɪnz/

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
miscellanynounUS /ˈmɪsəleɪni/

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/

come to pass

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
partlyadverbUS /ˈpɑːrtli/

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading Some of the evidence for this is partly external in character.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PLAYverbUS /pleɪ/

participate in games or sport

From this reading POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PLUTARCHnoun

Greek biographer who wrote Parallel Lives (46?-120 AD)

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
poemsnounUS /ˈpoʊəmz/

plural of “poem” — a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
POSITIONnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
printedverbUS /ˈprɪntɪd/

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
publishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scholarsnounUS /ˈskɑːlərz/

plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seventeenthadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/

coming next after the sixteenth in position

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SHAKESPEAREnounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːr/

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading ATTRACTION OF THE SUBJECT FOR SHAKESPEARE AND HIS GENERATION.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Shakespeare'snounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːrz/

possessive form of “shakespeare” — English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some of the evidence for this is partly external in character.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Sorrowes

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

From this reading (1) In a miscellany of poems on the death of Elizabeth, printed in 1603, and entitled _Sorrowes Joy_, the lines occur:

Pending verification
SUBJECTnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading ATTRACTION OF THE SUBJECT FOR SHAKESPEARE AND HIS GENERATION.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Some of the evidence for this is partly external in character.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TRAGEDIESnounUS /ˈtrædʒədiz/

plural of “tragedy” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading POSITION OF THE PLAY BETWEEN THE HISTORIES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading INDEBTEDNESS TO PLUTARCH Although _Julius Caesar_ was first published in the Folio of 1623, seven years after Shakespeare’s death, there is not much doubt about its approximate date of composition, which is now placed by almost all scholars near the beginning of the seventeenth century.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 4 of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background by Mungo William, Sir MacCallum holds 254 sentences, grouped into 51 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 4 of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background contain?

Chapter 4 holds 254 sentences of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background, unabridged, divided into 51 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background by Mungo William, Sir MacCallum exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 254 sentences, grouped into 51 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 Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background?

Work through the 51 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 51 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.

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Which edition of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background is used?

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

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Vocabulary met early in Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background

Words and structures a reader meets early in Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Shakespeare's Roman plays and their background, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.