Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.
"Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.
You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.
I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.
When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."
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 Private Memoirs and Confessions of a

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.
/aɪ æm moʊst ˌɪˈlʌstriəs prɪns ˈhoʊli æt jɔːr ˈsɜːrvəs sed aɪ/
Line 2
"Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.
/ʃoʊ bʌt wʌt ɔːt tuː biː dʌn ənd hiːr ɪz ðə hɑːrt tuː der ənd ðə hænd tuː ˈeksəkjuːt/
Line 3
You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.
/juː ˈpɔɪntɪd aʊt maɪ riˈleɪʃənz əˈkɔːrdɪŋ tuː ðə fleʃ æz brændz ˈfɪtəd tuː biː θroʊn ˈɪntuː ðə ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/
Line 4
I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.
Line 5
When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."
/wen wʌns ðæt ˈtraɪəl ʌv maɪ dɪˈvoʊʃən tuː ðə feɪθ ɪz əˈkɑːmplɪʃt ðen biː jɔːr ˈfjuːtʃər ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz dɪˈskloʊzd/

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.

accomplish verb US /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/

put in effect

From this reading “I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.”

approve verb US /əˈpruːv/

give sanction to

From this reading “I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.”

award noun US /əˈwɔːrd/

a grant made by a law court

From this reading “I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.”

brands noun US /brændz/

plural of “brand” — a name given to a product or service

From this reading “You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.”

diabolical adjective US /ˌdaɪəˈbɑːlɪkəl/

showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

From this reading “I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.”

disclosed adjective US /dɪˈskloʊzd/

made known (especially something secret or concealed)

From this reading “When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."”

execute verb US /ˈeksəkjuːt/

kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment

From this reading “"Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.”

operations noun US /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading “When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."”

All words in this reading · 66

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.

accomplishverbUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/

put in effect

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

accomplishedadjectiveUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃt/

highly skilled

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

approveverbUS /əˈpruːv/

give sanction to

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

artsnounUS /ɑːrts/

studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

awardnounUS /əˈwɔːrd/

a grant made by a law court

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

brandsnounUS /brændz/

plural of “brand” — a name given to a product or service

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of burning something

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

dareverbUS /der/

take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

devotionnounUS /dɪˈvoʊʃən/

feelings of ardent love

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

diabolicaladjectiveUS /ˌdaɪəˈbɑːlɪkəl/

showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

disclosedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskloʊzd/

made known (especially something secret or concealed)

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

executeverbUS /ˈeksəkjuːt/

kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

faithnounUS /feɪθ/

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/

being the right size and shape to fit as desired

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

fleshnounUS /fleʃ/

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

illustriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlʌstriəs/

widely known and esteemed

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

nayexclamationUS /neɪ/

an old word for “no”

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

peremptorilyadverb

in an imperative and commanding manner

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

pointedadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntɪd/

having a point

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

princenounUS /prɪns/

a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

relationsnounUS /riˈleɪʃənz/

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

ShowverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

sufferedverbUS /ˈsʌfərd/

past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/

a physiological need to drink

From this reading I approve peremptorily of the award; nay, I thirst to accomplish it; for I myself have suffered severely from their diabolical arts.

thrownadjectiveUS /θroʊn/

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

trialnounUS /ˈtraɪəl/

the act of testing something

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Show but what ought to be done, and here is the heart to dare and the hand to execute.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When once that trial of my devotion to the faith is accomplished, then be your future operations disclosed."

whollyadverbUS /ˈhoʊli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You pointed out my relations, according to the flesh, as brands fitted to be thrown into the burning.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I am, most illustrious prince, wholly at your service," said I.

Chapter 15 of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a by James Hogg holds 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 15 of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a contain?

Chapter 15 holds 141 sentences of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a by James Hogg exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 15 of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 Private Memoirs and Confessions of a

Common questions about reading The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a by James Hogg on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a?

Yes. All 3111 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2276 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2276, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a take to read?

About 259 minutes of reading across 623 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a section by section

How to work through The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a 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 Private Memoirs and Confessions of a

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Appears
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tradition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Parish
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Registers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.