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The Hollow Land
The Hollow Land

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Hollow Land is here in full — 478 sentences across 96 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Hollow Land
Context Illustration Reading 1/95 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."
- Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.
Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?
I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.
I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.
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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 Hollow Land

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Hollow Land is here in full — 478 sentences across 96 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/95 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."
Line 2
- Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.
Line 3
Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?
/duː juː noʊ wer ɪt ɪz ðə ˈhɑːloʊ lænd/
Line 4
I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.
/aɪ hæv bɪn ˈlʊkɪŋ fɔːr ɪt naʊ soʊ lɔːŋ ˈtraɪɪŋ tuː faɪnd ɪt əˈɡen ðə ˈhɑːloʊ lænd fɔːr ðer aɪ sɔː maɪ lʌv fɜːrst/
Line 5
I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

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.

fails verb US /feɪlz/

third-person singular of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading “I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.”

heroes noun US /ˈhɪroʊz/

plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading “"We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."”

Lied noun US /laɪd/

a German art song of the 19th century for voice and piano

From this reading “- Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.”

mote noun US /moʊt/

(nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

From this reading “"We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."”

perchance adverb US /pərˈtʃæns/

through chance

From this reading “I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.”

striving noun US /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading “"We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."”

woe noun US /woʊ/

misery resulting from affliction

From this reading “"We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."”

wonders noun US /ˈwʌndərz/

plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading “"We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."”

All words in this reading · 77

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

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 I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

boldadjectiveUS /boʊld/

fearless and daring

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

Carlylefs

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

From this reading - Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?

failsverbUS /feɪlz/

third-person singular of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

freeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

glorynounUS /ˈɡlɔːri/

a state of high honor

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

heroesnounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/

plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

high-tides

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

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

HollowadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːloʊ/

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?

how

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

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?

joyances

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

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

LandnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

LiednounUS /laɪd/

a German art song of the 19th century for voice and piano

From this reading - Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

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

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

Miscellanies

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

From this reading - Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

motenounUS /moʊt/

(nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

Niebelungen

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

From this reading - Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/

impressive in appearance

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

perchanceadverbUS /pərˈtʃæns/

through chance

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

reckonverbUS /ˈrekən/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading - Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

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 "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

STRUGGLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/

engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity

From this reading - Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading - Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/

hard to endure

From this reading I have been looking for it now so long, trying to find it again the Hollow Land for there I saw my love first.

waitverbUS /weɪt/

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

weepingadjectiveUS /ˈwiːpɪŋ/

showing sorrow

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading I wish to tell you how I found it first of all; but I am old, my memory fails me: you must wait and let me think if I perchance can tell you how it happened.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

woenounUS /woʊ/

misery resulting from affliction

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

wondersnounUS /ˈwʌndərz/

plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

WORLDnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading - Niebelungen Lied (see Carlylefs Miscellanies) STRUGGLING IN THE WORLD.

yepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading "We find in ancient story wonders many told, Of heroes in great glory, with spirit free and bold; Of joyances and high-tides, of weeping and of woe, Of noble reckon striving, mote ye now wonders know."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Do you know where it is -- the Hollow Land?

Chapter 1 of The Hollow Land by William Morris holds 478 sentences, grouped into 96 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 1 of The Hollow Land contain?

Chapter 1 holds 478 sentences of The Hollow Land, unabridged, divided into 96 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Hollow Land by William Morris exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 478 sentences, grouped into 96 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 1 of The Hollow Land?

Work through the 96 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 96 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Hollow Land

Common questions about reading The Hollow Land by William Morris on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Hollow Land?

Yes. All 478 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #15948 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Hollow Land is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #15948, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Hollow Land take to read?

About 39 minutes of reading across 96 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Hollow Land section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Hollow Land 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 Hollow Land

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

Ancient
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hollow Land; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hollow Land; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wonders
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hollow Land; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Heroes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hollow Land; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.