The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told is here in full — 91 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mary Macgregor • Curated US English Learning Edition

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THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

Narrator

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.

Chapter III Reading 1/18

The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told Mary Macgregor

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told is here in full — 91 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king. He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill. The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds. Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks. And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told is here in full — 91 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

Line 2

He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

/hiː æt wʌns bɪˈɡæn tuː meɪk ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz tuː bɪld ə ˈsɪti ɑːn ðə ˈpælətaɪn hɪl/

Line 3

The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

Line 4

Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

/ˈɔːfən hiː wɪð hɪz ˈbrʌðər hæd dʒɔɪnd ðə ˈhɜːrdzmɪn ɑːn ðæt deɪ tuː ˈɔːfər keɪks tuː ðə ˈɡɑːdəs peɪlz tuː biˈsiːtʃ hɜːr ˈblesɪŋ ɑːn ðemˈselvz ənd ɑːn ðer flɑːks/

Line 5

And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

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.

founding noun US /ˈfaʊndɪŋ/

the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new

From this reading “THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.”

herdsmen noun US /ˈhɜːrdzmɪn/

plural of “herdsman” — someone who drives a herd

From this reading “Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.”

Palatine noun US /ˈpælətaɪn/

any of various important officials in ancient Rome

From this reading “He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.”

Pales noun US /peɪlz/

plural of “pale” — a wooden strip forming part of a fence

From this reading “Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.”

Romulus noun US /ˈrɑːmjələs/

(Roman mythology) founder of Rome; suckled with his twin brother Remus by a wolf after their parents (Mars and Rhea Silvia) abandoned them; Romulus killed Remus in an argument over the building of Rome

From this reading “THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.”

sacrifices noun US /ˈsækrəfaɪsɪz/

plural of “sacrifice” — the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.

From this reading “And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!”

shepherds noun US /ˈʃepərdz/

plural of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people

From this reading “The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.”

twenty-first adjective US /ˈtwentifɜːrst/

coming next after the twentieth in position

From this reading “The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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

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

at once preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading “He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.”

make preparations verb + noun counted as “make preparation”

In this reading “He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.”

lay on verb + particle

In this reading “The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.”

All words in this reading · 70

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.

753

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

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

beseechverbUS /biˈsiːtʃ/

ask for or request earnestly

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

blessingnounUS /ˈblesɪŋ/

the formal act of approving

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

buildverbUS /bɪld/

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

cakesnounUS /keɪks/

plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

chosennounUS /ˈtʃoʊzən/

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

feast-day

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

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

flocksnounUS /flɑːks/

plural of “flock” — a church congregation guided by a pastor

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/

the basis on which something is grounded

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

FOUNDINGnounUS /ˈfaʊndɪŋ/

the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/

plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

gladadjectiveUS /ɡlæd/

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/

in a willing manner

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

goddessnounUS /ˈɡɑːdəs/

a female deity

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

herdsmennounUS /ˈhɜːrdzmɪn/

plural of “herdsman” — someone who drives a herd

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

hillnounUS /hɪl/

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

how

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

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

joinedadjectiveUS /dʒɔɪnd/

of or relating to two people who are married to each other

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

jollitynoun

feeling jolly and jovial and full of good humor

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

kingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

monthnounUS /mʌnθ/

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

offerverbUS /ˈɔːfər/

make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

OftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

PalatinenounUS /ˈpælətaɪn/

any of various important officials in ancient Rome

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

PalesnounUS /peɪlz/

plural of “pale” — a wooden strip forming part of a fence

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

prayersnounUS /prerz/

plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

ROMEnounUS /roʊm/

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

RomulusnounUS /ˈrɑːmjələs/

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

sacrificesnounUS /ˈsækrəfaɪsɪz/

plural of “sacrifice” — the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

shepherdsnounUS /ˈʃepərdz/

plural of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He at once began to make preparations to build a city on the Palatine hill.

twenty-firstadjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɜːrst/

coming next after the twentieth in position

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading And when the prayers and sacrifices were over, how gladly he had joined in the shepherds’ games and jollity!

wishedverbUS /wɪʃt/

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading The foundation he wished to lay on the twenty-first of the glad month of April, for, as Romulus knew, this was a feast-day among the shepherds.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Often he, with his brother, had joined the herdsmen on that day, to offer cakes to the goddess Pales, to beseech her blessing on themselves and on their flocks.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading THE FOUNDING OF ROME It was in the year 753 B.C. that Romulus was chosen king.

Chapter 3 of The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told by Mary Macgregor holds 91 sentences, grouped into 19 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 3 of The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus contain?

Chapter 3 holds 91 sentences of The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Story of Rome, From the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus, Told by Mary Macgregor exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 91 sentences, grouped into 19 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.

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Chapter III

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