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The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Merry Wives of Windsor is here in full — 159 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Merry Wives of Windsor
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Host.
Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.
I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.
He is the wiser man (M[aster].
Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?
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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 Merry Wives of Windsor

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Merry Wives of Windsor is here in full — 159 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Host.
/hoʊst/
Line 2
Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.
Line 3
I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.
Line 4
He is the wiser man (M[aster].
Line 5
Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

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.

aster noun US /ˈæstər/

any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus Aster with showy daisylike flowers

From this reading “He is the wiser man (M[aster].”

bodies noun US /ˈbɑːdiz/

plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading “Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?”

Greece noun US /ɡriːs/

a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil

From this reading “Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.”

Hector noun US /ˈhektər/

(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

From this reading “Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.”

Host noun US /hoʊst/

a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there

From this reading “Host.”

Page noun US /peɪdʒ/

one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading “Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?”

professions noun US /prəˈfeʃənz/

plural of “profession” — the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading “Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?”

wiser adjective US /ˈwaɪzər/

comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading “He is the wiser man (M[aster].”

All words in this reading · 56

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 Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

asternounUS /ˈæstər/

any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus Aster with showy daisylike flowers

From this reading He is the wiser man (M[aster].

beare

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

bodiesnounUS /ˈbɑːdiz/

plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

BoynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

Cai

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

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

Castalion-king-Vrinall

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

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

curer

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

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

DoctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

fightverbUS /faɪt/

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

goe

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

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

GreecenounUS /ɡriːs/

a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

haire

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

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

haue

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He is the wiser man (M[aster].

HectornounUS /ˈhektər/

(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

hee

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

HostnounUS /hoʊst/

a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there

From this reading Host.

howres

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading He is the wiser man (M[aster].

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading He is the wiser man (M[aster].

MasternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

nocome

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

PagenounUS /peɪdʒ/

one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

prayverbUS /preɪ/

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

professionsnounUS /prəˈfeʃənz/

plural of “profession” — the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

seuen

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

Shal

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

sixe

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

soules

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

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

stayverbUS /steɪ/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He is the wiser man (M[aster].

ThoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

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

From this reading Thou art a Castalion-king-Vrinall: Hector of Greece (my Boy) Cai.

treenounUS /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

wiseradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzər/

comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading He is the wiser man (M[aster].

witnesse

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

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I pray you beare witnesse, that me haue stay, sixe or seuen, two tree howres for him, and hee is nocome Shal.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Doctor) he is a curer of soules, and you a curer of bodies: if you should fight, you goe against the haire of your professions: is it not true, Master Page?

Chapter 5 of The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare holds 159 sentences, grouped into 32 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 Merry Wives of Windsor contain?

Chapter 5 holds 159 sentences of The Merry Wives of Windsor, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 159 sentences, grouped into 32 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 Merry Wives of Windsor?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 Merry Wives of Windsor

Common questions about reading The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Merry Wives of Windsor?

Yes. All 1521 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1116 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Merry Wives of Windsor is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1116, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Merry Wives of Windsor take to read?

About 126 minutes of reading across 305 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Merry Wives of Windsor section by section

How to work through The Merry Wives of Windsor section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of The Merry Wives of Windsor 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 Merry Wives of Windsor

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Merry Wives of Windsor, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Addition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Merry Wives of Windsor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Notes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Merry Wives of Windsor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Below
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Merry Wives of Windsor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Think
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Merry Wives of Windsor; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.