Chapter 2 of The Tempest is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter II
Chapter 2 of The Tempest is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Mir. Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro. Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir. Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs? Pro.
Chapter 2 of The Tempest is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.”
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading “Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?”
an indirect suggestion
From this reading “Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.”
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
From this reading “Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.”
possessive form of “now” — the momentary present
From this reading “Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.”
a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
From this reading “Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.”
an athlete who plays for pay
From this reading “Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.”
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading “Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?
opinion or judgment
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mir.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
possessive form of “now” — the momentary present
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
an athlete who plays for pay
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading Wherefore did they not That howre destroy vs?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Heare a little further, And then I'le bring thee to the present businesse Which now's vpon's: without the which, this Story Were most impertinent Mir.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alack, for pitty: I not remembring how I cride out then Will cry it ore againe: it is a hint That wrings mine eyes too't Pro.
Chapter 2 of The Tempest by William Shakespeare holds 149 sentences, grouped into 30 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.
Chapter 2 holds 149 sentences of The Tempest, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of The Tempest by William Shakespeare exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 149 sentences, grouped into 30 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.
Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 30 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.
Common questions about reading The Tempest by William Shakespeare on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 903 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1135 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1135, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 75 minutes of reading across 181 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Tempest section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of The Tempest to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Tempest, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
