Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Fifth String
The Fifth String

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Fifth String is here in full — 221 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By John Philip Sousa • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 5 of The Fifth String by John Philip Sousa holds 221 sentences, grouped into 45 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 5 of The Fifth String contain?

Chapter 5 holds 221 sentences of The Fifth String, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Fifth String by John Philip Sousa exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 221 sentences, grouped into 45 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 5 of The Fifth String?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Fifth String

Common questions about reading The Fifth String by John Philip Sousa on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Fifth String?

Yes. All 1283 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #504 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Fifth String is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #504, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Fifth String take to read?

About 106 minutes of reading across 257 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Fifth String section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Fifth String 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 Fifth String

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

Coming
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Fifth String; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Diotti
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Fifth String; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
America
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Fifth String; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Awakened
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Fifth String; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Fifth String
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."
"You can not do it when I ask it?" she exclaimed.
"Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.
"You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.
You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.
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 Fifth String

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Fifth String is here in full — 221 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."
Line 2
"You can not do it when I ask it?" she exclaimed.
Line 3
"Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.
Line 4
"You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.
Line 5
You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.
All words in this reading · 55

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

affrighted

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
again

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
ask

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

From this reading "You can not do it when I ask it?" she exclaimed.

Pending verification
believe

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
can

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
cried

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
darkness

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
descended

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
do

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
earth

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
exclaimed

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

From this reading "You can not do it when I ask it?" she exclaimed.

Pending verification
face

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
greater

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
happiness

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
he

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
his

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
I

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
incomplete

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
into

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
it

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

From this reading "You can not do it when I ask it?" she exclaimed.

Pending verification
led

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
light

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
loved

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
made

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
make

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
me

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
Mildred

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
musician

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
No

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
not

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
Oh

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
one

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
only

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
passionately

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
plainer

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
raging

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
region

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
she

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

From this reading "You can not do it when I ask it?" she exclaimed.

Pending verification
soul

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
than

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading You led me into the region of light only to make the darkness greater when I descended to earth again.

Pending verification
told

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
turmoil

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
understand

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
when

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

From this reading "You can not do it when I ask it?" she exclaimed.

Pending verification
without

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification
words

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

From this reading "Oh Mildred, do not ask me; I can not, can not do it," and the face of the affrighted musician told plainer than words of the turmoil raging in his soul.

Pending verification
you

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

From this reading "No, no, Mildred; you do not understand," he cried; "I can not do that."

Pending verification
your

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

From this reading "You made me believe that I was the only one you loved," passionately she cried; "the only one; that your happiness was incomplete without me.

Pending verification