Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Serf
The Serf

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for The Serf
Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"
Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.
To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."
When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.
"Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.
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 Serf

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"
Line 2
Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.
Line 3
To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."
Line 4
When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.
Line 5
"Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Clash noun US /klæʃ/

A violent confrontation or disagreement between opposing forces or factions.

From this reading “"Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “"Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"”

All words in this reading · 83

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

all

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

battle

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

From this reading "Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

circumstances

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

clamorously

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

clashnounUS /klæʃ/

A violent confrontation or disagreement between opposing forces or factions.

From this reading "Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

Crowneth

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

day

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

day's

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

days

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

down

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

evenings

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

evil

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

exalted

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

fate

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

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

fight

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

FreeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

Godhead

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

goes

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

Greek

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

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

Greeks

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

From this reading "Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

hearts

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

held

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

high

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

inspired

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

lost

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

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

loth

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

made

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

man

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

memorially

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

men

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

men's

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

much

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

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

old

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

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

poets

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

poppies

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

priest

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

produces

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

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

said

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

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

says

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

see

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

significance

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

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

significant

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

From this reading "Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

some

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

Sufficient

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

things

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

To-day

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

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

Tragedy

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

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

tragôdia

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

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

Tyrtæus

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

uplifting

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

From this reading "Free will warring with Fate"--it was the clash of that fine battle, which those old Greeks found significant and uplifting.

warring

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

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading To-day, we have lost much of the significance of the old "[Greek: tragôdia]."

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "So, some time, when the last of all our evenings Crowneth memorially the last of all our days, Not loth to take his poppies, man goes down and says: '_Sufficient for the day were the day's evil things_.'"

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Free will, warring with fate, produces Tragedy, so it is said.

Æschylus

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

From this reading When the priest poets Tyrtæus and Æschylus clamorously exalted--held high that all might see--the Godhead of men who fight and do, it was not so much the tragedy itself, but the circumstances that made it which inspired men's hearts.