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The Pomp of Yesterday
The Pomp of Yesterday

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Pomp of Yesterday is here in full — 26 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Pomp of Yesterday
Context Illustration Reading 1/5 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.
"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.
God of the Nations, spare us yet!
Lest we forget, lest we forget."
RUDYARD KIPLING.
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 Pomp of Yesterday

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Pomp of Yesterday is here in full — 26 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.
Line 2
"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.
Line 3
God of the Nations, spare us yet!
/ɡɑːd ʌv ðə ˈneɪʃənz sper ʌs jet/
Line 4
Lest we forget, lest we forget."
/lest wiː fərˈɡet lest wiː fərˈɡet/
Line 5
RUDYARD KIPLING.

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.

Dearer adjective US /ˈdɪrər/

comparative of “dear” — dearly loved

From this reading “Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.”

dune noun US /duːn/

a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans

From this reading “"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.”

famed adjective US /feɪmd/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading “"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.”

kipling noun US /ˈkɪplɪŋ/

English author of novels and poetry who was born in India (1865-1936)

From this reading “RUDYARD KIPLING.”

Navies noun US /ˈneɪviz/

plural of “navy” — an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare

From this reading “"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.”

Nineveh noun US /ˈnɪnəvə/

an ancient Assyrian city on the Tigris across from the modern city of Mosul in the northern part of what is now known as Iraq

From this reading “"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.”

sinks noun US /sɪŋks/

plural of “sink” — plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe

From this reading “"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.”

Tyre noun US /taɪr/

a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks

From this reading “"Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.”

All words in this reading · 43

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 Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

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 Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

AuthornounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

CurtainnounUS /ˈkɜːrtən/

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

DeareradjectiveUS /ˈdɪrər/

comparative of “dear” — dearly loved

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

dunenounUS /duːn/

a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

etc

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

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

famedadjectiveUS /feɪmd/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

FaradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

FireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

forgetverbUS /fərˈɡet/

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading Lest we forget, lest we forget."

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading God of the Nations, spare us yet!

headlandnoun

a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

KIPLINGnounUS /ˈkɪplɪŋ/

English author of novels and poetry who was born in India (1865-1936)

From this reading RUDYARD KIPLING.

LestconjunctionUS /lest/

in order that something should not happen

From this reading Lest we forget, lest we forget."

LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

Lo

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

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

meltverbUS /melt/

reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

NationsnounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/

plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading God of the Nations, spare us yet!

NaviesnounUS /ˈneɪviz/

plural of “navy” — an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

NinevehnounUS /ˈnɪnəvə/

an ancient Assyrian city on the Tigris across from the modern city of Mosul in the northern part of what is now known as Iraq

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

PapernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

pompnounUS /pɑːmp/

cheap or pretentious or vain display

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

RUDYARD

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

From this reading RUDYARD KIPLING.

ScrapnounUS /skræp/

a small fragment of something broken off from the whole

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

sinksnounUS /sɪŋks/

plural of “sink” — plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

spareverbUS /sper/

refrain from harming

From this reading God of the Nations, spare us yet!

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Author of 'All for a Scrap of Paper,' 'Dearer than Life,' 'The Curtain of Fire,' etc.

TyrenounUS /taɪr/

a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading God of the Nations, spare us yet!

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Lest we forget, lest we forget."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

yesterdaynounUS /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading "Far famed our Navies melt away, On dune and headland sinks the fire, Lo, all the pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading God of the Nations, spare us yet!

Chapter 1 of The Pomp of Yesterday by Joseph Hocking holds 26 sentences, grouped into 6 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 Pomp of Yesterday contain?

Chapter 1 holds 26 sentences of The Pomp of Yesterday, unabridged, divided into 6 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Pomp of Yesterday by Joseph Hocking exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 26 sentences, grouped into 6 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 Pomp of Yesterday?

Work through the 6 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 6 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 Pomp of Yesterday

Common questions about reading The Pomp of Yesterday by Joseph Hocking on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Pomp of Yesterday?

Yes. All 6324 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25136 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Pomp of Yesterday is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25136, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Pomp of Yesterday take to read?

About 527 minutes of reading across 1265 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Pomp of Yesterday section by section

How to work through The Pomp of Yesterday section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Pomp of Yesterday 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 Pomp of Yesterday

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Pomp of Yesterday, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Pomp of Yesterday; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Scrap
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Pomp of Yesterday; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Paper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Pomp of Yesterday; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dearer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Pomp of Yesterday; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.