Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning
The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning

Chapter XXXVIII

Chapter 38 of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning is here in full — 857 sentences across 172 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning
Context Illustration Reading 1/171 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!
Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.
There 's rumor of arrest.
Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!
They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?
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 Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning

Chapter XXXVIII

Chapter 38 of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning is here in full — 857 sentences across 172 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/171 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!
Line 2
Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.
Line 3
There 's rumor of arrest.
/ðer es ˈruːmər ʌv ərˈest/
Line 4
Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!
Line 5
They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?
/ðeɪ ˈproʊtest ʃæl wiː nɑːt ɔːl dʒɔɪn ˈkɔːrəs/

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.

Bands noun US /bændz/

plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading “Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!”

champions noun US /ˈtʃæmpiənz/

plural of “champion” — someone who has won first place in a competition

From this reading “As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!”

cheered verb US /tʃɪrd/

past form of “cheer” — give encouragement to

From this reading “As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!”

England's noun US /ˈɪŋɡləndz/

possessive form of “england” — a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading “As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!”

loth adjective US /lɑːθ/

unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom

From this reading “As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!”

minded adjective US /ˈmaɪndəd/

(used in combination) mentally oriented toward something specified

From this reading “As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!”

Pans noun US /pænz/

plural of “pan” — cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel

From this reading “As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!”

rumor noun US /ˈruːmər/

gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth

From this reading “There 's rumor of arrest.”

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.

Bring up verb + adjective

summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

In this reading “Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!”

All words in this reading · 57

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.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

arrestverbUS /ərˈest/

take into custody

From this reading There 's rumor of arrest.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

BandsnounUS /bændz/

plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

BringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

championsnounUS /ˈtʃæmpiənz/

plural of “champion” — someone who has won first place in a competition

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

cheeredverbUS /tʃɪrd/

past form of “cheer” — give encouragement to

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/

any utterance produced simultaneously by a group

From this reading They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?

England'snounUS /ˈɪŋɡləndz/

possessive form of “england” — a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

FivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

GuardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/

plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

Hampden

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

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

Haselrig

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

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

Hollis

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

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

Ignoblyadverb

in a currish manner; meanspiritedly

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

joinverbUS /dʒɔɪn/

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

limbnounUS /lɪm/

one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

lothadjectiveUS /lɑːθ/

unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

MannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

mindedadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪndəd/

(used in combination) mentally oriented toward something specified

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

PansnounUS /pænz/

plural of “pan” — cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

ParliamentnounUS /ˈpɑːrləmənt/

a legislative assembly in certain countries

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

Preston

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

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

privilegenounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒ/

a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

protestnounUS /ˈproʊtest/

a formal and solemn declaration of objection

From this reading They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?

Pym

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

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

rumornounUS /ˈruːmər/

gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth

From this reading There 's rumor of arrest.

snounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

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

From this reading They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?

Southwark

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

From this reading Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!

standsnounUS /stændz/

plural of “stand” — a support or foundation

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

StrodeverbUS /stroʊd/

inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps

From this reading Parliament stands for privilege--life and limb Guards Hollis, Haselrig, Strode, Hampden, Pym, The famous Five.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There 's rumor of arrest.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They protest: Shall we not all join chorus?

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

TrainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!

troopnounUS /truːp/

a group of soldiers

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Bring up the Train Bands, Southwark!

wast

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

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading As thou wast minded, Man 's The cause our music champions: I were loth To think we cheered our troop to Preston Pans Ignobly: back to times of England's best!

Chapter 38 of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning by Robert Browning holds 857 sentences, grouped into 172 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 38 of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning contain?

Chapter 38 holds 857 sentences of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning, unabridged, divided into 172 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 38 of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning by Robert Browning exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 857 sentences, grouped into 172 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 38 of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning?

Work through the 172 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 172 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 38 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 38 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 Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning

Common questions about reading The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning by Robert Browning on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning?

Yes. All 33314 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #50954 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #50954, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 6663 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning section by section

How to work through The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning 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 Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Scene
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Council
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chamber
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rivoli
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Complete Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.