Chapter 2 of The Alchemist is here in full — 389 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter II
Chapter 2 of The Alchemist is here in full — 389 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
SUB. I wish you could advance your voice a little. FACE. When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB. So, sir!
Chapter 2 of The Alchemist is here in full — 389 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/77 · 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.
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading “When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.”
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading “When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.”
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading “When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.”
past form of “rake” — move through with or as if with a rake
From this reading “When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.”
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading “When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.”
only a very short time before
From this reading “When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.”
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading “When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.”
be a substitute
From this reading “SUB.”
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 I wish you could advance your voice a little.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading I wish you could advance your voice a little.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I wish you could advance your voice a little.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading FACE.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wish you could advance your voice a little.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I wish you could advance your voice a little.
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
not any; not one
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
past form of “rake” — move through with or as if with a rake
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
only a very short time before
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
term of address for a man
From this reading So, sir!
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, sir!
be a substitute
From this reading SUB.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading I wish you could advance your voice a little.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
at the time that
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wish you could advance your voice a little.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When you went pinn'd up in the several rags You had raked and pick'd from dunghills, before day; Your feet in mouldy slippers, for your kibes; A felt of rug, and a thin threaden cloke, That scarce would cover your no buttocks-- SUB.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I wish you could advance your voice a little.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I wish you could advance your voice a little.
Chapter 2 of The Alchemist by Ben Jonson holds 389 sentences, grouped into 78 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 389 sentences of The Alchemist, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of The Alchemist by Ben Jonson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 389 sentences, grouped into 78 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 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 78 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 The Alchemist by Ben Jonson on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5919 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4081 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #4081, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 493 minutes of reading across 1184 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Alchemist section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 15 chapters of The Alchemist 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 The Alchemist, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
