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Voices from the Past
Voices from the Past

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of Voices from the Past is here in full — 390 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Voices from the Past
Context Illustration Reading 1/78 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.
Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?
In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...
How can I say perfect health and memory?
I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...
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.

Voices from the Past

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of Voices from the Past is here in full — 390 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.
Line 2
Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?
Line 3
In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...
Line 4
How can I say perfect health and memory?
Line 5
I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

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.

believing noun US /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/

the cognitive process that leads to convictions

From this reading “I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...”

commend verb US /kəˈmend/

express approval of

From this reading “I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...”

dictate verb US /dɪkˈteɪt/

issue commands or orders for

From this reading “Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?”

everlasting adjective US /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading “I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...”

ordain verb US /ɔːrˈdeɪn/

order by virtue of superior authority; decree

From this reading “In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...”

testament noun US /ˈtestəmənt/

a profession of belief

From this reading “In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...”

thereof adverb US /ˌðeˈrʌv/

of or concerning this or that

From this reading “I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...”

Tomorrow noun US /təˈmɑːroʊ/

the day after today

From this reading “Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?”

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.

perfect health adjective + noun

In this reading “In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...”

into the hands preposition + article + noun counted as “into … hands”

In this reading “I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...”

name of verb + particle

In this reading “In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

AgainadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/

the cognitive process that leads to convictions

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading How can I say perfect health and memory?

commendverbUS /kəˈmend/

express approval of

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

dictateverbUS /dɪkˈteɪt/

issue commands or orders for

From this reading Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

everlastingadjectiveUS /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

healthnounUS /helθ/

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

hopingverbUS /ˈhoʊpɪŋ/

-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

how

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

From this reading Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

I'll

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

From this reading Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

ordainverbUS /ɔːrˈdeɪn/

order by virtue of superior authority; decree

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

partakernoun

someone who has or gives or receives a part or a share

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

remindedverbUS /riˈmaɪndɪd/

past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading How can I say perfect health and memory?

ShakespearenounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːr/

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

testamentnounUS /ˈtestəmənt/

a profession of belief

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

thereofadverbUS /ˌðeˈrʌv/

of or concerning this or that

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I commend my soul into the hands of God, hoping and believing to be made a partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the earth thereof it is made...

TomorrownounUS /təˈmɑːroʊ/

the day after today

From this reading Tomorrow I’ll dictate...how will it go?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Again I am reminded I must complete my will—and so I must.

William

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

From this reading In the name of God, I, William Shakespeare, gentleman, in perfect health and memory, make and ordain this last will and testament...

Chapter 24 of Voices from the Past by Paul Alexander Bartlett holds 390 sentences, grouped into 78 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 24 of Voices from the Past contain?

Chapter 24 holds 390 sentences of Voices from the Past, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of Voices from the Past by Paul Alexander Bartlett exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 390 sentences, grouped into 78 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 24 of Voices from the Past?

Work through the 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 78 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Voices from the Past

Common questions about reading Voices from the Past by Paul Alexander Bartlett on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Voices from the Past?

Yes. All 11644 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39468 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Voices from the Past is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39468, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Voices from the Past take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2329 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Voices from the Past section by section

How to work through Voices from the Past section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 29 chapters of Voices from the Past 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 Voices from the Past

Words and structures a reader meets early in Voices from the Past, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Voices
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Voices from the Past; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Daring
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Voices from the Past; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Group
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Voices from the Past; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Independent
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Voices from the Past; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.