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The Ballad of Venus Nell
The Ballad of Venus Nell

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Ballad of Venus Nell is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.
And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.
_For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.
Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.
He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.
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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 Venus Nell

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Ballad of Venus Nell is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.
Line 2
And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.
Line 3
_For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.
Line 4
Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.
Line 5
He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

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.

asteroid noun US /ˈæstərɔɪd/

any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)

From this reading “Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.”

Astronomer noun US /əˈstrɑːnəmər/

a physicist who studies astronomy

From this reading “Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.”

cosmic adjective US /ˈkɑːzmɪk/

of or from or pertaining to or characteristic of the cosmos or universe

From this reading “Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.”

hutch noun US /hʌtʃ/

a cage (usually made of wood and wire mesh) for small animals

From this reading “Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.”

maw noun US /mɔː/

informal terms for the mouth

From this reading “And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.”

soar verb US /sɔːr/

rise rapidly

From this reading “Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.”

span noun US /spæn/

the complete duration of something

From this reading “Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.”

thunderous adjective US /ˈθʌndərəs/

loud enough to cause (temporary) hearing loss

From this reading “Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

engage in verb + particle

In this reading “He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.”

All words in this reading · 105

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

another's

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

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

asteroidnounUS /ˈæstərɔɪd/

any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

AstronomernounUS /əˈstrɑːnəmər/

a physicist who studies astronomy

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

Beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

Coalsack's

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

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

cosmicadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːzmɪk/

of or from or pertaining to or characteristic of the cosmos or universe

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

dimmest

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

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

Dougal

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

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

EarthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

Earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/

possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

ebonadjective

of a very dark black

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

engageverbUS /enˈɡeɪdʒ/

carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

fellowman's

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

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

fightverbUS /faɪt/

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

firmadjectiveUS /fɜːrm/

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

foenounUS /foʊ/

an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

gainverbUS /ɡeɪn/

obtain

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/

with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/

plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

holenounUS /hoʊl/

an opening into or through something

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

hutchnounUS /hʌtʃ/

a cage (usually made of wood and wire mesh) for small animals

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

jetnounUS /dʒet/

an airplane powered by one or more jet engines

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

JustadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

labornounUS /ˈleɪbər/

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

LawnounUS /lɔː/

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

lotnounUS /lɑːt/

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

lustnounUS /lʌst/

a strong sexual desire

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

MacNeer

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

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

MannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

mawnounUS /mɔː/

informal terms for the mouth

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/

the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

narrowedadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊd/

reduced in size as by squeezing together

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

pachydermnoun

any of various nonruminant hoofed mammals having very thick skin: elephant; rhinoceros; hippopotamus

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

painnounUS /peɪn/

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

pickverbUS /pɪk/

select carefully from a group

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

pioneernounUS /ˌpaɪəˈnɪr/

someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

planetnounUS /ˈplænət/

(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

plotnounUS /plɑːt/

a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

pricenounUS /praɪs/

the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

roarverbUS /rɔːr/

make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

sciencenounUS /ˈsaɪəns/

a particular branch of scientific knowledge

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

seeksnounUS /siːks/

plural of “seek” — the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

shipsnounUS /ʃɪps/

plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

shovelnounUS /ˈʃʌvəl/

a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

six-foot-two

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

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

soarverbUS /sɔːr/

rise rapidly

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

soilnounUS /sɔɪl/

the state of being covered with unclean things

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

SolnounUS /sɑːl/

a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

spannounUS /spæn/

the complete duration of something

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

starnounUS /stɑːr/

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

thrustverbUS /θrʌst/

push forcefully

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

thunderousadjectiveUS /ˈθʌndərəs/

loud enough to cause (temporary) hearing loss

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

toilverbUS /tɔɪl/

work hard

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

towernounUS /ˈtaʊər/

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

UniversaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/

of worldwide scope or applicability

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

unmappedadjective

(of unknown regions) not yet surveyed or investigated

From this reading Just one of a million such Who labor and toil in unmapped soil With shovel and pick and hutch.

voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/

lacking any legal or binding force

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

whoever

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

From this reading _For whoever shall plot for another's lot,_ _Be he brother or foe or friend_ _Who seeks his gain of a fellowman's pain_ _Has a price to pay in the end._ Now, Dougal MacNeer was a pioneer.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Oh, the science of Man has narrowed the span Between the near and the far, With thunderous roar the great ships soar From Earth to the dimmest star; But though in their lust for gold they thrust From planet to asteroid The Will of the Great Astronomer still Is the Will of the cosmic void.

Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He was six-foot-two, and a man whom few Would care to engage in a fight, With shoulders as firm as a pachyderm; A tower of granite might.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading And from Earth's own Sol to the ebon hole Of the Coalsack's gaping maw Though Man may jet, he is subject yet To the Universal Law.

Chapter 1 of The Ballad of Venus Nell by Nelson S. Bond holds 165 sentences, grouped into 33 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The Ballad of Venus Nell contain?

Chapter 1 holds 165 sentences of The Ballad of Venus Nell, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Ballad of Venus Nell by Nelson S. Bond exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 165 sentences, grouped into 33 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of The Ballad of Venus Nell?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Ballad of Venus Nell

Common questions about reading The Ballad of Venus Nell by Nelson S. Bond on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Ballad of Venus Nell?

Yes. All 165 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #62096 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Ballad of Venus Nell is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #62096, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Ballad of Venus Nell take to read?

About 13 minutes of reading across 33 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Ballad of Venus Nell section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Ballad of Venus Nell 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 Venus Nell

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

Science
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ballad of Venus Nell; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Narrowed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ballad of Venus Nell; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Between
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ballad of Venus Nell; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thunderous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ballad of Venus Nell; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.