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

Chapter XVI · James Vane in the Opium Den

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 16 — chapter-context illustration for reading 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/54 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.
The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.
From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.
In others, drunkards brawled and screamed.
Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”
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 Picture of Dorian Gray

Chapter XVI · James Vane in the Opium Den

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

Reading 1/54 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.
Line 2
The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.
Line 3
From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.
Line 4
In others, drunkards brawled and screamed.
Line 5
Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”
All words in this reading · 80

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

A

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

and

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

back

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

bars

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

From this reading From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.

began

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

blurred

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

brawled

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

From this reading In others, drunkards brawled and screamed.

broken

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

by

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

came

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

From this reading From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.

city

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

closing

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

clustering

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

cold

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

cure

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

day

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

dim

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

doors

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

Dorian

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

dripping

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

drunkards

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

From this reading In others, drunkards brawled and screamed.

eyes

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

fall

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

first

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

forehead

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

From

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

From this reading From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.

ghastly

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

Gray

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

great

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

groups

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

had

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

hansom

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

hat

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

he

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

Henry

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

him

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

himself

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

his

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

horrible

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

From this reading From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.

in

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

just

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

laughter

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

From this reading From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.

listless

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

looked

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

Lord

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

Lying

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

means

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

men

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

met

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

mist

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

now

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

of

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

From this reading From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.

on

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

others

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

From this reading In others, drunkards brawled and screamed.

over

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

public-houses

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

pulled

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

rain

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

repeated

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

round

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

said

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

screamed

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

From this reading In others, drunkards brawled and screamed.

senses

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

shame

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

some

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

From this reading From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.

sordid

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

soul

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

sound

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

From this reading From some of the bars came the sound of horrible laughter.

street-lamps

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

that

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

the

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

their

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

then

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

they

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

to

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

From this reading A cold rain began to fall, and the blurred street-lamps looked ghastly in the dripping mist.

watched

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

were

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

with

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”

women

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

From this reading The public-houses were just closing, and dim men and women were clustering in broken groups round their doors.

words

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

From this reading Lying back in the hansom, with his hat pulled over his forehead, Dorian Gray watched with listless eyes the sordid shame of the great city, and now and then he repeated to himself the words that Lord Henry had said to him on the first day they had met, “To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul.”