Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Ballad of Reading Gaol
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.
We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.
So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.
With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.
Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.
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.

The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol is here in full — 82 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.
Line 2
We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.
Line 3
So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.
Line 4
With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.
Line 5
Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

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.

Blood noun US /blʌd/

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

From this reading “With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.”

All words in this reading · 122

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 So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

an

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

and

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

as

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

asphalte

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

bag

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

banged

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

bawled

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

bitter

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

bleeding

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

bloodnounUS /blʌd/

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

blunt

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

broke

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

But

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

by

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

clattered

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

cleaned

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

Crawled

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

cried

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

dawn

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

day

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

Death

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

Doom

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

doors

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

Dread

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

drill

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

dusty

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

ere

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

every

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

fair

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

fellow

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

floors

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

fool

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

for

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

forgot

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

from

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

Gaped

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

gloom

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

grave

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

grew

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

groped

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

had

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

hangman

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

heart

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

his

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

hole

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

horrid

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

hymns

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

I

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

in

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

intent

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

Into

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

it

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

knave

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

knew

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

lay

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

like

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

little

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

living

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

lot

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

lying

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

man

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

mill

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

mouth

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

mud

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

my

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

nails

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

numbered

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

of

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

on

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

once

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

one

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

out

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

pails

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

passed

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

plank

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

rails

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

rank

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

Right

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

ring

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

rope

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

rubbed

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

sacks

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

scrubbed

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

sewed

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

shining

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

shreds

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

shuffling

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

So

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

soaped

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

soul

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

still

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

stones

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

sweated

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

swing

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

tarry

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

Terror

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

that

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

the

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

thing

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

thirsty

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

through

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

Till

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

tins

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

to

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

tomb

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

tore

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

tramped

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

trembled

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

turned

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

very

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

waits

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

was

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

From this reading We sewed the sacks, we broke the stones, We turned the dusty drill: We banged the tins, and bawled the hymns, And sweated on the mill: But in the heart of every man Terror was lying still.

wave

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

way

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

We

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

weed-clogged

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

went

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

From this reading Right in we went, with soul intent On Death and Dread and Doom: The hangman, with his little bag, Went shuffling through the gloom: And I trembled as I groped my way Into my numbered tomb.

With

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

From this reading We tore the tarry rope to shreds With blunt and bleeding nails; We rubbed the doors, and scrubbed the floors, And cleaned the shining rails: And, rank by rank, we soaped the plank, And clattered with the pails.

work

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

From this reading So still it lay that every day Crawled like a weed-clogged wave: And we forgot the bitter lot That waits for fool and knave, Till once, as we tramped in from work, We passed an open grave.

yawning

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

From this reading With yawning mouth the horrid hole Gaped for a living thing; The very mud cried out for blood To the thirsty asphalte ring: And we knew that ere one dawn grew fair The fellow had to swing.

Chapter 3 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde holds 82 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 3 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol contain?

Chapter 3 holds 82 sentences of The Ballad of Reading Gaol, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 82 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 3 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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.