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The Black Dwarf
The Black Dwarf

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Black Dwarf is here in full — 53 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Black Dwarf
Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PRELIMINARY.
Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.
It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.
The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.
He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.
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 Black Dwarf

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Black Dwarf is here in full — 53 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PRELIMINARY.
Line 2
Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.
Line 3
It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.
Line 4
The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.
Line 5
He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

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.

Philosophy noun US /fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi/

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. (Triết học, đạo lý nhân sinh.)

From this reading “Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

and

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

any

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

April

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

AS

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

before

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

boots

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

bridle

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

brown

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

but

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

coat

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

condition

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

covered

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

cut

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

dazzling

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

depth

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

double-bitted

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

dreadnought

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

excepting

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

fine

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

first

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

grey

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

ground

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

had

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

hard

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

Hast

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

hat

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

having

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

He

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

horsemen

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

horsewhip

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

huge

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

in

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

inches

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

Inn

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

IT

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

large

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

LIKE

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

man

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

mantle

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

mare

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

military

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

morning

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

mounted

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

night

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

of

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

on

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

overalls

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

philosophynounUS /fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi/

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. (Triết học, đạo lý nhân sinh.)

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

powerful

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

PRELIMINARY

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

From this reading PRELIMINARY.

remained

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

riding-coat

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

rode

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

rough

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

saddle

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

Shepherd

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

silver-mounted

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

six

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

snowed

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

strong

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

tall

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

that

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

the

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

thee

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

to

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

two

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

up

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

Wallace

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

was

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

waxcloth

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

From this reading The first was a strong, tall, powerful man, in a grey riding-coat, having a hat covered with waxcloth, a huge silver-mounted horsewhip, boots, and dreadnought overalls.

well

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

when

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

with

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

From this reading It was a fine April morning (excepting that it had snowed hard the night before, and the ground remained covered with a dazzling mantle of six inches in depth) when two horsemen rode up to the Wallace Inn.

yeomanry

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

From this reading He was mounted on a large strong brown mare, rough in coat, but well in condition, with a saddle of the yeomanry cut, and a double-bitted military bridle.

YOU

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

From this reading Hast any philosophy in thee, Shepherd?--AS YOU LIKE IT.

Chapter 1 of The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott holds 53 sentences, grouped into 11 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 1 of The Black Dwarf contain?

Chapter 1 holds 53 sentences of The Black Dwarf, unabridged, divided into 11 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 53 sentences, grouped into 11 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 Black Dwarf?

Work through the 11 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 11 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 Black Dwarf

Common questions about reading The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Black Dwarf?

Yes. All 1832 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1460 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Black Dwarf is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1460, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Black Dwarf take to read?

About 152 minutes of reading across 367 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Black Dwarf section by section

How to work through The Black Dwarf section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of The Black Dwarf 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 Black Dwarf

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Black Dwarf, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preliminary
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Black Dwarf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Philosophy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Black Dwarf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shepherd
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Black Dwarf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
April
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Black Dwarf; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.