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The Blackguard
The Blackguard

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Blackguard is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Roger Pocock • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Blackguard
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE BLACKGUARD.
ROGER POCOCK.
WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.
"Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.
God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"
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 Blackguard

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Blackguard is here in full — 109 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BLACKGUARD.
Line 2
ROGER POCOCK.
Line 3
WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.
/wɔːrd lɑːk koʊ ˈlɪmətəd ˈlʌndən nuː jɔːrk ˈmelbərn/
Line 4
"Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.
Line 5
God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

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.

duffer noun US /ˈdʌfər/

an incompetent or clumsy person

From this reading “"Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
limited adjective US /ˈlɪmətəd/

small in range or scope

From this reading “WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
melbourne noun US /ˈmelbərn/

a resort town in east central Florida

From this reading “WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morrow noun US /ˈmɑːroʊ/

the next day

From this reading “"Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
remembers verb US /rɪˈmembərz/

third-person singular of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading “God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sins noun US /sɪnz/

plural of “sin” — estrangement from god

From this reading “"Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Sundown noun US /ˈsʌndaʊn/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading “God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ward noun US /wɔːrd/

a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading “WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

Think of verb + particle

keep in mind for attention or consideration

In this reading “"Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.”

152,298 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 44

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 "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
a-serving

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

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Pending verification
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BLACKGUARDverb

subject to laughter or ridicule

From this reading THE BLACKGUARD.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
COnounUS /koʊ/

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
duffernounUS /ˈdʌfər/

an incompetent or clumsy person

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Here's

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

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

Pending verification
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LIMITEDadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/

small in range or scope

From this reading WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LOCKverbUS /lɑːk/

fasten with a lock

From this reading WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MELBOURNEnounUS /ˈmelbərn/

a resort town in east central Florida

From this reading WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morrownounUS /ˈmɑːroʊ/

the next day

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NEWadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
POCOCK

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

From this reading ROGER POCOCK.

Pending verification
QueennounUS /kwiːn/

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
remembersverbUS /rɪˈmembərz/

third-person singular of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ROGER

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

From this reading ROGER POCOCK.

Pending verification
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
sinsnounUS /sɪnz/

plural of “sin” — estrangement from god

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soldiernounUS /ˈsoʊldʒər/

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sorrownounUS /ˈsɑːroʊ/

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SundownnounUS /ˈsʌndaʊn/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading God save the man who remembers his sorrow, God save the man who can think of the past, Sundown at last: Here's rest for the past, and here's hope for the morrow!"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BLACKGUARD.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thinksnounUS /θɪŋks/

plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
to-morrow

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

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Pending verification
WARDnounUS /wɔːrd/

a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
YORKnounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Think of your sins, What made you a soldier a-serving the Queen: God save the Queen, And God save the duffer who thinks of to-morrow.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of The Blackguard by Roger Pocock holds 109 sentences, grouped into 22 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 Blackguard contain?

Chapter 1 holds 109 sentences of The Blackguard, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Blackguard by Roger Pocock exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 109 sentences, grouped into 22 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 Blackguard?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 Blackguard

Common questions about reading The Blackguard by Roger Pocock on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Blackguard?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Blackguard is used?

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

How long does The Blackguard take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Blackguard section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of The Blackguard 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 Blackguard

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

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Blackguard, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The Blackguard, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Blackguard, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.