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The Bruce
The Bruce

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Bruce is here in full — 177 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Bruce
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.
5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.
10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.
For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.
And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.
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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 Bruce

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Bruce is here in full — 177 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.
Line 2
5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.
Line 3
10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.
Line 4
For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.
Line 5
And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

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.

bot noun US /bɔːt/

botfly larva; typically develops inside the body of a horse or sheep or human

From this reading “Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.”

folk noun US /foʊk/

people in general (often used in the plural)

From this reading “For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.”

oft adverb US /ɔːft/

many times at short intervals

From this reading “And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.”

stalwart adjective US /ˈstɔːlwərt/

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading “For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.”

suffice verb US /səˈfaɪs/

be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

From this reading “10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.”

thai adjective US /taɪ/

of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand or its people

From this reading “Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.”

Wan adjective US /wɑːn/

(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble

From this reading “And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.”

weill noun US /waɪl/

German composer; collaborated with Bertolt Brecht (1900-1950)

From this reading “And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.”

All words in this reading · 111

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.

10

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

15

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

20

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

25

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

5

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

arnounUS /ɑːr/

a colorless and odorless inert gas; one of the six inert gases; comprises approximately 1% of the earth's atmosphere

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

aulde

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

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

ay

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

bataill

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

botnounUS /bɔːt/

botfly larva; typically develops inside the body of a horse or sheep or human

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

carpyng

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

certis

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

chevalry

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

cowardy

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

dedys

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

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

delitabill

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

doubill

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

fabill

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

fayne

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

folknounUS /foʊk/

people in general (often used in the plural)

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

forgetverbUS /fərˈɡet/

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

furth

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

fyrst

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

ger

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

Giff

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

gret

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

gud

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

haly

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

heryng

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

lenth

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

lestconjunctionUS /lest/

in order that something should not happen

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

likand

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

lyff

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

lyvyt

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

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

maner

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

mannys

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

mycht

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

nanounUS /nɑː/

a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

nocht

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

oftadverbUS /ɔːft/

many times at short intervals

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

plesance

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

plesand

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/

the state of being present; current existence

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

pricenounUS /praɪs/

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

prys

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

redeverb

give an interpretation or explanation to

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

redys

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

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

Representis

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

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

richt

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

rycht

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

schawys

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

stalwartadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːlwərt/

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

Storys

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

stour

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

sufficeverbUS /səˈfaɪs/

be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

suld

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

Suppos

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

suth

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

suthfast

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

suthfastnes

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

Swa

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

thaiadjectiveUS /taɪ/

of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand or its people

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

thaim

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

From this reading For aulde storys that men redys, Representis to thaim the dedys Of stalwart folk that lyvyt ar, Rycht as thai than in presence war.

ThanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

thar

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

Tharfor

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

thartill

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

thyngis

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

tothir

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

travaill

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

Tyll

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

tyme

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

voydyt

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

wald

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

WanadjectiveUS /wɑːn/

(of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

weillnounUS /waɪl/

German composer; collaborated with Bertolt Brecht (1900-1950)

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

wer

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

From this reading Storys to rede ar delitabill, Suppos that thai be nocht bot fabill: Than suld storys that suthfast wer, And thai war said on gud maner, Have doubill plesance in heryng.

wes

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

From this reading 5 The fyrst plesance is the carpyng, And the tothir the suthfastnes That schawys the thing rycht as it wes: And suth thyngis that ar likand Tyll mannys heryng ar plesand.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

wryt

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

wycht

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

wys

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

From this reading And certis, thai suld weill have prys 20 That in thar tyme war wycht and wys, And led thar lyff in gret travaill, And oft, in hard stour off bataill, Wan richt gret price off chevalry, 25 And war voydyt off cowardy.

wyt

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

From this reading 10 Tharfor I wald fayne set my will, Giff my wyt mycht suffice thartill, To put in wryt a suthfast story, That it lest ay furth in memory, Swa that na tyme of lenth it let, 15 Na ger it haly be forget.

Chapter 2 of The Bruce by John, -1395 Barbour holds 177 sentences, grouped into 36 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 2 of The Bruce contain?

Chapter 2 holds 177 sentences of The Bruce, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Bruce by John, -1395 Barbour exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 177 sentences, grouped into 36 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 2 of The Bruce?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.

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

Questions about reading The Bruce

Common questions about reading The Bruce by John, -1395 Barbour on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Bruce?

Yes. All 8217 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #44292 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Bruce is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #44292, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Bruce take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1644 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Bruce section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of The Bruce 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 Bruce

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

Mackenzie
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bruce; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bruce; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Outline
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bruce; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Scottish
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bruce; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.