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The Dynasts
The Dynasts

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Dynasts is here in full — 388 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Dynasts
Context Illustration Reading 1/77 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.
A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.
MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!
[Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]
CAMBACERES Your Majesty, There's not a trice to lose.
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 Dynasts

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Dynasts is here in full — 388 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/77 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.
/jɔːr ˈmædʒəsti maɪ ˈmɪʃən ɪz tuː seɪ ɪmˈpɪr.i.əs niːd dɪkˈteɪts jɔːr ˈɪnstənt flaɪt/
Line 2
A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.
Line 3
MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!
Line 4
[Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]
Line 5
CAMBACERES Your Majesty, There's not a trice to lose.

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.

dictates noun US /dɪkˈteɪts/

plural of “dictate” — an authoritative rule

From this reading “Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.”

Europe's noun US /ˈjʊrəps/

possessive form of “europe” — the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles

From this reading “MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!”

Imperious adj US /ɪmˈpɪr.i.əs/

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. (Hách dịch, độc đoán, kiêu kỳ.)

From this reading “Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.”

packs noun US /pæks/

plural of “pack” — a large indefinite number

From this reading “A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.”

Prussian noun US /ˈprʌʃən/

a German inhabitant of Prussia

From this reading “A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.”

regiment verb US /ˈredʒəmənt/

subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization

From this reading “A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.”

scouts noun US /skaʊts/

plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading “MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!”

trice verb US /traɪs/

raise with a line

From this reading “CAMBACERES Your Majesty, There's not a trice to lose.”

All words in this reading · 47

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 A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

Arch-Chancellor

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

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!

armedadjectiveUS /ɑːrmd/

(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms

From this reading MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!

BAUSSET

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

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

BEAUHARNAIS

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

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

CAMBACERES

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

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

CANISY

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

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

CORVISART

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

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

COUNTverbUS /kaʊnt/

determine the number or amount of

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

DEnounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

dictatesnounUS /dɪkˈteɪts/

plural of “dictate” — an authoritative rule

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

EnterverbUS /ˈentər/

to come or go into

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

equerrynoun

an official charged with the care of the horses of princes or nobles

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

Europe'snounUS /ˈjʊrəps/

possessive form of “europe” — the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles

From this reading MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!

flightnounUS /flaɪt/

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

gainedverbUS /ɡeɪnd/

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

Hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

ImperiousadjUS /ɪmˈpɪr.i.əs/

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. (Hách dịch, độc đoán, kiêu kỳ.)

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

loseverbUS /luːz/

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading CAMBACERES Your Majesty, There's not a trice to lose.

MajestynounUS /ˈmædʒəsti/

impressiveness in scale or proportion

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

MENEVAL

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

From this reading MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!

missionnounUS /ˈmɪʃən/

an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading CAMBACERES Your Majesty, There's not a trice to lose.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

others

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

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

packsnounUS /pæks/

plural of “pack” — a large indefinite number

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

physiciannounUS /fəˈzɪʃən/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading [Enter CAMBACERES the Arch-Chancellor, COUNT BEAUHARNAIS, CORVISART the physician, DE BAUSSET, DE CANISY the equerry, and others.]

PrussiannounUS /ˈprʌʃən/

a German inhabitant of Prussia

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

regimentverbUS /ˈredʒəmənt/

subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

scoutsnounUS /skaʊts/

plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

There's

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

From this reading CAMBACERES Your Majesty, There's not a trice to lose.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading MENEVAL They are armed Europe's scouts!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

triceverbUS /traɪs/

raise with a line

From this reading CAMBACERES Your Majesty, There's not a trice to lose.

vanward

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

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading A vanward regiment of the Prussian packs Has gained the shadow of the city walls.

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Your Majesty, my mission is to say Imperious need dictates your instant flight.

Chapter 20 of The Dynasts by Thomas Hardy holds 388 sentences, grouped into 78 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 20 of The Dynasts contain?

Chapter 20 holds 388 sentences of The Dynasts, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Dynasts by Thomas Hardy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 388 sentences, grouped into 78 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 20 of The Dynasts?

Work through the 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 78 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Dynasts

Common questions about reading The Dynasts by Thomas Hardy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Dynasts?

Yes. All 9483 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4043 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Dynasts is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4043, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Dynasts take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1897 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Dynasts section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of The Dynasts 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 Dynasts

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

Covered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dynasts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Action
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dynasts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Being
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dynasts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Years
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dynasts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.