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Verses 1889-1896
Verses 1889-1896

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Verses 1889-1896 is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Verses 1889-1896
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!
The charge is old”?
-- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?
If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.
Our friends believe”?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Verses 1889-1896

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Verses 1889-1896 is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!
Line 2
The charge is old”?
Line 3
-- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?
Line 4
If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.
Line 5
Our friends believe”?

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.

again

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

all

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

And

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

another

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

are

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

As

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

away

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

ball

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

be

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

behind

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

believe

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

From this reading “Our friends believe”?

bell-wether

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

bleat

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

blundering

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

break

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

Cain

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

charge

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

From this reading “The charge is old”?

Commandments

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

curse

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

daub

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

death

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

find

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

fresh

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

friends

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

From this reading “Our friends believe”?

glistens

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

go

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

hands

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

have

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

Hold

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

if

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

innocence

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

is

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

From this reading “The charge is old”?

it's

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

laws

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

of

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

old

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

on

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

or

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

Our

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

From this reading “Our friends believe”?

pen

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

powder

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

scare

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

sends

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

sheep

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

shot

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

snuff

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

so

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

sped

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

spoke

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

taint

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

talked

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

tar

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

Tell

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

Ten

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

that

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

The

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

them

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

they

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

those

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

to

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

together

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

tripping

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

tups

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

up

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

words

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

ye

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

yesterday

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

You

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

your

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

yours

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

Chapter 9 of Verses 1889-1896 by Rudyard Kipling holds 155 sentences, grouped into 31 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 9 of Verses 1889-1896 contain?

Chapter 9 holds 155 sentences of Verses 1889-1896, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of Verses 1889-1896 by Rudyard Kipling exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 155 sentences, grouped into 31 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 9 of Verses 1889-1896?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Verses 1889-1896

Common questions about reading Verses 1889-1896 by Rudyard Kipling on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Verses 1889-1896?

Yes. All 2582 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #323 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Verses 1889-1896 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #323, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Verses 1889-1896 take to read?

About 215 minutes of reading across 517 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Verses 1889-1896 section by section

How to work through Verses 1889-1896 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of Verses 1889-1896 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 Verses 1889-1896

Words and structures a reader meets early in Verses 1889-1896, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Volume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Verses 1889-1896; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wolcott
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Verses 1889-1896; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Balestier
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Verses 1889-1896; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Beyond
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Verses 1889-1896; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.