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Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems
Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems is here in full — 327 sentences across 66 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Radclyffe Hall • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems
Context Illustration Reading 1/65 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.
1913.
WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.
The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.
So do the poet and the man of prose use pen and ink.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Three Counties, and Other Poems

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems is here in full — 327 sentences across 66 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.
Line 2
1913.
Line 3
WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.
Line 4
The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.
/ðə bɜːrd ənd mæn boʊθ juːs ðə er bʌt wɪð ə ˈdɪfərəns/
Line 5
So do the poet and the man of prose use pen and ink.
/soʊ duː ðə ˈpoʊət ənd ðə mæn ʌv proʊz juːs pen ənd ɪŋk/

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.

albatross noun US /ˈælbətrɑːs/

(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps

From this reading “WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
chapman noun US /ˈtʃæpmən/

United States pioneer who planted apple trees as he traveled (1774-1845)

From this reading “With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ink noun US /ɪŋk/

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

From this reading “So do the poet and the man of prose use pen and ink.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
introduction noun US /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/

the act of beginning something new

From this reading “With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pen noun US /pen/

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading “WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preface noun US /ˈprefəs/

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading “WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prose noun US /proʊz/

ordinary writing as distinguished from verse

From this reading “WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
writer noun US /ˈraɪtər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading “WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 48

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.

1913

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

From this reading 1913.

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 WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
albatrossnounUS /ˈælbətrɑːs/

(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
attemptnounUS /əˈtempt/

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
birdnounUS /bɜːrd/

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CHAPMANnounUS /ˈtʃæpmən/

United States pioneer who planted apple trees as he traveled (1774-1845)

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM

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

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

Pending verification
differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading So do the poet and the man of prose use pen and ink.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/

moving swiftly

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
gracenounUS /ɡreɪs/

(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HALLnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inknounUS /ɪŋk/

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

From this reading So do the poet and the man of prose use pen and ink.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IntroductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/

the act of beginning something new

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
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 With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LTD

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

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

Pending verification
mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/

being nothing more than specified

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
monoplanist

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

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Pending verification
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
pennounUS /pen/

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
poetnounUS /ˈpoʊət/

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading So do the poet and the man of prose use pen and ink.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
poetrynounUS /ˈpoʊətri/

literature in metrical form

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prefacenounUS /ˈprefəs/

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prosenounUS /proʊz/

ordinary writing as distinguished from verse

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
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 With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading The bird and man both use the air, but with a difference.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With an Introduction by R. B. CUNNINGHAME-GRAHAM LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LTD.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
writernounUS /ˈraɪtər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading WITH as much grace as if a monoplanist should attempt to write a preface to a book on flying for an albatross, so may a writer of mere prose attempt to pen an introduction to a book of poetry.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems by Radclyffe Hall holds 327 sentences, grouped into 66 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 1 of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems contain?

Chapter 1 holds 327 sentences of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems, unabridged, divided into 66 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems by Radclyffe Hall exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 327 sentences, grouped into 66 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 Three Counties, and Other Poems?

Work through the 66 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 66 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 Three Counties, and Other Poems

Common questions about reading Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems by Radclyffe Hall on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems?

Yes. All 327 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #50591 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #50591, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems take to read?

About 27 minutes of reading across 66 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems section by section

How to work through Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems 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 Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems

Words and structures a reader meets early in Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Introduction
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cunninghame-graham
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
London
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Songs of Three Counties, and Other Poems; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.