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The Nursery Rhyme Book
The Nursery Rhyme Book

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Nursery Rhyme Book is here in full — 376 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Nursery Rhyme Book
Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.
_Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.
_Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.
So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.
_Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Nursery Rhyme Book

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Nursery Rhyme Book is here in full — 376 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.
Line 2
_Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.
Line 3
_Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.
/ˈsuːtərz biː ʃiː jʌŋ ɔːr biː ʃiː oʊld fɔːr hɜːr ˈbjuːti ʃiː mʌst biː soʊld/
Line 4
So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.
Line 5
_Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.
/ˈmʌðər tɜːrn bæk tɜːrn bæk ðaʊ ˈskɔːrnfəl naɪt ənd rʌb ðaɪ spɜːrz tɪl ðeɪ biː braɪt/

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.

brethren noun US /ˈbreðrən/

(plural) the lay members of a male religious order

From this reading “_Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.”

fare noun US /fer/

an agenda of things to do

From this reading “So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.”

rub verb US /rʌb/

move over something with pressure

From this reading “_Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.”

scornful adjective US /ˈskɔːrnfəl/

expressing extreme contempt

From this reading “_Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.”

sold adjective US /soʊld/

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading “_Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.”

Spain noun US /speɪn/

a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power

From this reading “_Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.”

spurs noun US /spɜːrz/

plural of “spur” — a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

From this reading “_Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.”

Suitors noun US /ˈsuːtərz/

plural of “suitor” — a man who courts a woman

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Turn back verb + particle

retrace one's course

In this reading “_Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.”

too young adverb + adjective

In this reading “_Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

Beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading _Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading _Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

brethrennounUS /ˈbreðrən/

(plural) the lay members of a male religious order

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

ComeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

courtnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

farenounUS /fer/

an agenda of things to do

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

gayadjectiveUS /ɡeɪ/

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

Jane

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

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

knightnounUS /naɪt/

originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

MothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

mother-tongue

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

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading _Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading _Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading _Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

rubverbUS /rʌb/

move over something with pressure

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

scornfuladjectiveUS /ˈskɔːrnfəl/

expressing extreme contempt

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

soldadjectiveUS /soʊld/

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading _Suitors._ Be she young, or be she old, For her beauty she must be sold.

SpainnounUS /speɪn/

a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

spursnounUS /spɜːrz/

plural of “spur” — a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

SuitorsnounUS /ˈsuːtərz/

plural of “suitor” — a man who courts a woman

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

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

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

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

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

TurnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading _Mother._ Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight, And rub thy spurs till they be bright.

WEpronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

We'll

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

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading So fare you well, my lady gay, We'll call again another day.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading _Mother._ My daughter Jane she is too young, And has not learned her mother-tongue.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _Suitors._ WE are three brethren out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

Chapter 3 of The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew [Editor] Lang holds 376 sentences, grouped into 76 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 3 of The Nursery Rhyme Book contain?

Chapter 3 holds 376 sentences of The Nursery Rhyme Book, unabridged, divided into 76 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew [Editor] Lang exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 376 sentences, grouped into 76 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 3 of The Nursery Rhyme Book?

Work through the 76 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 76 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Nursery Rhyme Book

Common questions about reading The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew [Editor] Lang on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Nursery Rhyme Book?

Yes. All 1208 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26197 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Nursery Rhyme Book is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #26197, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Nursery Rhyme Book take to read?

About 100 minutes of reading across 242 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Nursery Rhyme Book section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of The Nursery Rhyme Book 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 Nursery Rhyme Book

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

Nursery
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Nursery Rhyme Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rhymes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Nursery Rhyme Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brings
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Nursery Rhyme Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Queer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Nursery Rhyme Book; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.