Chapter 2 of Tales is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Tales is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
TALE III. THE GENTLEMAN FARMER. Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough. SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice. Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
Chapter 2 of Tales is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
a man who has never been married
From this reading “Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.”
a document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)
From this reading “Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.”
(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence
From this reading “Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.”
regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in
From this reading “Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.”
past form of “rate” — assign a rank or rating to
From this reading “Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.”
English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)
From this reading “SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice.”
the provincial capital of Veneto; built on 118 islands within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice; has canals instead of streets; one of Italy's major ports and a famous tourist attraction
From this reading “SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice.”
have a certain weight
From this reading “Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
a man who has never been married
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
for the reason that
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
be worthy or deserving
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
an old form of “do”, used with “thou”
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
a document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
divisible by two
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading THE GENTLEMAN FARMER.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
a man of refinement
From this reading THE GENTLEMAN FARMER.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading TALE III.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice.
regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
not one, and not any
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
past form of “rate” — assign a rank or rating to
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)
From this reading SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading TALE III.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GENTLEMAN FARMER.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
the provincial capital of Veneto; built on 118 islands within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice; has canals instead of streets; one of Italy's major ports and a famous tourist attraction
From this reading SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice.
have a certain weight
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Pause then, And weigh thy value with an even hand; If thou beest rated by thy estimation, Thou dost deserve enough.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading Because I will not do them wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor.
Chapter 2 of Tales by George Crabbe holds 156 sentences, grouped into 32 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.
Chapter 2 holds 156 sentences of Tales, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Tales by George Crabbe exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 156 sentences, grouped into 32 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 32 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Tales by George Crabbe on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1908 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5217 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #5217, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 159 minutes of reading across 382 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Tales section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of Tales to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Tales, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
