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Songs of Innocence and of Experience
Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Songs of Innocence and of Experience is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Songs of Innocence and of Experience
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LONDON: R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON.
GUILDFORD: A. C. CURTIS.
MDCCCCI.
Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow
Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard
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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.

Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Songs of Innocence and of Experience is here in full — 145 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LONDON: R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON.
Line 2
GUILDFORD: A. C. CURTIS.
Line 3
MDCCCCI.
Line 4
Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow
Line 5
Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

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.

Bard noun US /bɑːrd/

a lyric poet

From this reading “Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard”

Earth's noun US /ɜːrθs/

possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

Echoing adjective US /ˈekoʊɪŋ/

(of sounds) repeating by reflection

From this reading “Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow”

Nurse's noun US /ˈnɜːrsɪz/

possessive form of “nurse” — one skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)

Pebble noun US /ˈpebəl/

a small smooth rounded rock

From this reading “Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard”

Schoolboy noun US /ˈskuːlbɔɪ/

a boy attending school

From this reading “Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard”

Sunflower noun US /ˈsʌnflaʊər/

any plant of the genus Helianthus having large flower heads with dark disk florets and showy yellow rays

From this reading “Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard”

Vagabond noun US /ˈvæɡəbɑːnd/

anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place

From this reading “Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard”

All words in this reading · 69

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 GUILDFORD: A. C. CURTIS.

AbstractverbUS /æbˈstrækt/

consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

Ah

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

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

AncientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

AngelnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəl/

spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

Another's

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

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

AnswerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

BardnounUS /bɑːrd/

a lyric poet

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

BlackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

BlossomverbUS /ˈblɑːsəm/

produce or yield flowers

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

BoynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

BRIMLEY

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

From this reading LONDON: R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading GUILDFORD: A. C. CURTIS.

Chimney-Sweeper

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

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

Clodnoun

a compact mass

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

CradlenounUS /ˈkreɪdəl/

a baby bed with sides and rockers

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

CURTISnounUS /ˈkɜːrtəs/

English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)

From this reading GUILDFORD: A. C. CURTIS.

DivineadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaɪn/

emanating from God

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

DreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

Earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/

possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

EchoingadjectiveUS /ˈekoʊɪŋ/

(of sounds) repeating by reflection

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

FlyverbUS /flaɪ/

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

FoundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

GardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

GirlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

GreennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

GUILDFORD

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

From this reading GUILDFORD: A. C. CURTIS.

HolynounUS /ˈhoʊli/

a sacred place of pilgrimage

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

HumanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

ImagenounUS /ˈɪmədʒ/

an iconic mental representation

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

InfantnounUS /ˈɪnfənt/

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

IntroductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/

the act of beginning something new

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

JOHNSONnounUS /ˈdʒɑːnsən/

English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading LONDON: R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON.

JoynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

LambnounUS /læm/

young sheep

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

LaughingadjectiveUS /ˈlæfɪŋ/

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

LilynounUS /ˈlɪli/

any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

LittleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading LONDON: R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON.

LostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

LovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

MDCCCCI

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

From this reading MDCCCCI.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

NightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

Nurse'snounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪz/

possessive form of “nurse” — one skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

PebblenounUS /ˈpebəl/

a small smooth rounded rock

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

PoisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/

spoil as if by poison

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

PrettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

RnounUS /ɑːr/

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading LONDON: R. BRIMLEY JOHNSON.

RosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

Rose-Tree

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

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

SchoolboynounUS /ˈskuːlbɔɪ/

a boy attending school

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

ShepherdnounUS /ˈʃepərd/

a clergyman who watches over a group of people

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

SickadjectiveUS /sɪk/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

SongnounUS /sɔːŋ/

a short musical composition with words

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

SorrownounUS /ˈsɑːroʊ/

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

SpringnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

SunflowernounUS /ˈsʌnflaʊər/

any plant of the genus Helianthus having large flower heads with dark disk florets and showy yellow rays

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

From this reading Introduction The Shepherd The Echoing Green The Lamb The Little Black Boy The Blossom The Chimney-Sweeper The Little Boy Lost The Little Boy Found Laughing Song A Cradle Song The Divine Image Holy Thursday Night Spring Nurse’s Song Infant Joy A Dream On Another’s Sorrow

TigernounUS /ˈtaɪɡər/

a fierce or audacious person

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

Tirzah

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

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

TreenounUS /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

VagabondnounUS /ˈvæɡəbɑːnd/

anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

VoicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Introduction Earth’s Answer The Clod and the Pebble Holy Thursday The Little Girl Lost The Little Girl Found The Chimney-Sweeper Nurse’s Song The Sick Rose The Fly The Angel The Tiger My Pretty Rose-Tree Ah, Sunflower The Lily The Garden of Love The Little Vagabond London The Human Abstract Infant Sorrow A Poison Tree A Little Boy Lost A Little Girl Lost A Divine Image A Cradle Song To Tirzah The Schoolboy The Voice of the Ancient Bard

Chapter 1 of Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake holds 145 sentences, grouped into 29 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 1 of Songs of Innocence and of Experience contain?

Chapter 1 holds 145 sentences of Songs of Innocence and of Experience, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 145 sentences, grouped into 29 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 1 of Songs of Innocence and of Experience?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Common questions about reading Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Songs of Innocence and of Experience?

Yes. All 289 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1934 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Songs of Innocence and of Experience is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1934, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Songs of Innocence and of Experience take to read?

About 24 minutes of reading across 58 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Songs of Innocence and of Experience section by section

How to work through Songs of Innocence and of Experience section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of Songs of Innocence and of Experience 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 Songs of Innocence and of Experience

Words and structures a reader meets early in Songs of Innocence and of Experience, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

London
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Songs of Innocence and of Experience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brimley
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Songs of Innocence and of Experience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Johnson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Songs of Innocence and of Experience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Guildford
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Songs of Innocence and of Experience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.