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The Disturbing Charm
The Disturbing Charm

Chapter XXVIII

Chapter 28 of The Disturbing Charm is here in full — 289 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Disturbing Charm
Context Illustration Reading 1/57 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.
Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."
Lovelace.
Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.
Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.
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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 Disturbing Charm

Chapter XXVIII

Chapter 28 of The Disturbing Charm is here in full — 289 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/57 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.
/hɪz ˈbraɪdəl naɪt tel miː nɑːt swiːt aɪ æm ənˈkaɪnd ðæt frʌm ðə ˈnʌnəri ʌv ðaɪ tʃeɪst brest ənd ˈkwaɪət maɪnd tuː wɔːr ənd ɑːrmz aɪ flaɪ/
Line 2
Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."
/jet ðɪs ˌɪnˈkɑːnstənsi ɪz sʌtʃ æz juː tuː ʃæl əˈdɔːr aɪ kʊd nɑːt lʌv ðiː dɪr soʊ mʌtʃ lʌvd aɪ nɑːt ˈɑːnər mɔːr/
Line 3
Lovelace.
/ˈlʌvleɪs/
Line 4
Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.
Line 5
Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

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.

adore verb US /əˈdɔːr/

love intensely

From this reading “Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."”

bridal adjective US /ˈbraɪdəl/

of or relating to a wedding

From this reading “HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.”

chaste adjective US /tʃeɪst/

morally pure (especially not having experienced sexual intercourse)

From this reading “HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.”

inconstancy noun US /ˌɪnˈkɑːnstənsi/

unfaithfulness by virtue of being unreliable or treacherous

From this reading “Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."”

intuition noun US /ˌɪntuːˈɪʃən/

instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)

From this reading “Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.”

Lovelace noun US /ˈlʌvleɪs/

English poet (1618-1857)

From this reading “Lovelace.”

nunnery noun US /ˈnʌnəri/

the convent of a community of nuns

From this reading “HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.”

raid verb US /reɪd/

search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on

From this reading “Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.”

All words in this reading · 60

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.

adoreverbUS /əˈdɔːr/

love intensely

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

Awdas

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

From this reading Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.

breastnounUS /brest/

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

BRIDALadjectiveUS /ˈbraɪdəl/

of or relating to a wedding

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

Cartwright's

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

From this reading Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.

chasteadjectiveUS /tʃeɪst/

morally pure (especially not having experienced sexual intercourse)

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

DearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

flyverbUS /flaɪ/

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

HonournounUS /ˈɑːnər/

the state of being honored

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

inconstancynounUS /ˌɪnˈkɑːnstənsi/

unfaithfulness by virtue of being unreliable or treacherous

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

intuitionnounUS /ˌɪntuːˈɪʃən/

instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)

From this reading Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

JacknounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

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 Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

LovedadjectiveUS /lʌvd/

held dear

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

LovelacenounUS /ˈlʌvleɪs/

English poet (1618-1857)

From this reading Lovelace.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

NIGHTnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

nunnerynounUS /ˈnʌnəri/

the convent of a community of nuns

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

perfectlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrfəktli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.

quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

raidverbUS /reɪd/

search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on

From this reading Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading Mrs. Cartwright's intuition had been perfectly right.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

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

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

SweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

TellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

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

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

unkindadjectiveUS /ənˈkaɪnd/

lacking kindness

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

warnounUS /wɔːr/

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading HIS BRIDAL NIGHT "Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind To war and arms I fly.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Jack Awdas was up during the raid over London.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore, I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not Honour more."

Chapter 28 of The Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck holds 289 sentences, grouped into 58 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 28 of The Disturbing Charm contain?

Chapter 28 holds 289 sentences of The Disturbing Charm, unabridged, divided into 58 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 28 of The Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 289 sentences, grouped into 58 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 28 of The Disturbing Charm?

Work through the 58 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 58 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 28 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 28 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 Disturbing Charm

Common questions about reading The Disturbing Charm by Berta Ruck on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Disturbing Charm?

Yes. All 5925 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36442 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Disturbing Charm is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #36442, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Disturbing Charm take to read?

About 493 minutes of reading across 1185 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Disturbing Charm section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 32 chapters of The Disturbing Charm 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 Disturbing Charm

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

Bewitched
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disturbing Charm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rogue's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disturbing Charm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disturbing Charm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rascal
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Disturbing Charm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.