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The Ballad of Reading Gaol
The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol is here in full — 85 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Ballad of Reading Gaol
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.
But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.
For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!
Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.
Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.
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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.

The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol is here in full — 85 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.
Line 2
But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.
Line 3
For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!
Line 4
Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.
Line 5
Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

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.

Bleed verb US /bliːd/

To lose or emit fluid, or metaphorically to seep magical essence from an enchanted tome.

From this reading “For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!”

Blood noun US /blʌd/

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading “For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!”

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.”

Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.”

All words in this reading · 115

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.

a

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

again

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

all

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

amongst

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

An

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

And

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

ape

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

arrows

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

asphalte

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

at

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

before

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

behind

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

bleedverbUS /bliːd/

To lose or emit fluid, or metaphorically to seep magical essence from an enchanted tome.

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

bloodnounUS /blʌd/

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

blue

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

But

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

by

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

called

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

careless

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

cloud

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

clown

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

crept

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

crooked

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

dead

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

died

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

downcast

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

draws

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

dreadful

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

due

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

each

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

every

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

eye

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

For

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

freedom

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

from

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

garb

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

got

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

gouts

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

great

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

had

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

happy

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

have

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

He

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

head

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

his

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

hollow

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

Horror

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

I

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

In

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

instead

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

it

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

its

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

killed

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

knew

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

Like

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

little

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

lived

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

looked

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

makes

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

man

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

men

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

monstrous

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

never

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

no

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

of

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

or

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

pain

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

passed

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

prisoners

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

round

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

Rushed

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

sad

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

saw

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

second

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

should

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

shroud

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

Silently

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

sins

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

sky

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

slippery

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

soul

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

spoke

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

spotted

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

stalked

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

starred

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

such

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

tent

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

terror

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

that

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

the

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

there

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

They

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

thing

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

things

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

those

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

through

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

time

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

to

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

Upon

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

us

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

vain

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

Wakes

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

From this reading For he who sins a second time Wakes a dead soul to pain, And draws it from its spotted shroud, And makes it bleed again, And makes it bleed great gouts of blood And makes it bleed in vain!

walked

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

We

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

went

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

were

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

Whilst

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

From this reading But there were those amongst us all Who walked with downcast head, And knew that, had each got his due, They should have died instead: He had but killed a thing that lived Whilst they had killed the dead.

who

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

wind

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

From this reading Silently we went round and round, And through each hollow mind The memory of dreadful things Rushed like a dreadful wind, An Horror stalked before each man, And terror crept behind.

wistful

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

With

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

From this reading I never saw sad men who looked With such a wistful eye Upon that little tent of blue We prisoners called the sky, And at every careless cloud that passed In happy freedom by.

word

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

yard

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

From this reading Like ape or clown, in monstrous garb With crooked arrows starred, Silently we went round and round The slippery asphalte yard; Silently we went round and round, And no man spoke a word.

Chapter 2 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde holds 85 sentences, grouped into 17 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 2 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol contain?

Chapter 2 holds 85 sentences of The Ballad of Reading Gaol, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 85 sentences, grouped into 17 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 2 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol?

Work through the 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 17 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 2 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Common questions about reading The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Ballad of Reading Gaol?

Yes. All 242 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #301 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Ballad of Reading Gaol is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #301, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Ballad of Reading Gaol take to read?

About 20 minutes of reading across 49 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Ballad of Reading Gaol section by section

How to work through The Ballad of Reading Gaol section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of The Ballad of Reading Gaol 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 The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Ballad of Reading Gaol, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Scarlet
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ballad of Reading Gaol; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Blood
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ballad of Reading Gaol; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hands
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ballad of Reading Gaol; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Found
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ballad of Reading Gaol; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.