Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Voltaire • Curated US English Learning Edition

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HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

"My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

You run the risk of being hanged, and your ox of being burned, drowned or devoured, I don't know what they will do with your other animals; for, prophet as I am, I know very little; but do you carefully conceal the serpent, and the fish.

Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

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 VIII Reading 1/22

Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume Voltaire

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY. The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman. "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one. You run the risk of being hanged, and your ox of being burned, drowned or devoured, I don't know what they will do with your other animals; for, prophet as I am, I know very little; but do you carefully conceal the serpent, and the fish. Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

Line 2

The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

Line 3

"My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

/maɪ kəmˈpænjən sed hiː tuː hɜːr ˈaʊərz ɪz ə ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋ prəˈfeʃən bʌt ə ˈveri ˈdeɪndʒərəs wʌn/

Line 4

Line 5

Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

/let nɑːt ðə wʌn ʃoʊ hɪz hed əˈbʌv ˈwɔːtər nɔːr ðə ˈʌðər ˈventʃər aʊt ʌv hɪz hoʊl/

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.

conducted verb US /kənˈdʌktəd/

past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading “HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.”

devoured verb US /dɪˈvaʊərd/

past form of “devour” — destroy completely

From this reading “You run the risk of being hanged, and your ox of being burned, drowned or devoured, I don't know what they will do with your other animals; for, prophet as I am, I know very little; but do you carefully conceal the serpent, and the fish.”

hanged verb US /hæŋd/

past form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

prophet noun US /ˈprɑːfət/

an authoritative person who divines the future

sage noun US /seɪdʒ/

a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom

From this reading “The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.”

serpent noun US /ˈsɜːrpənt/

limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

succeeding adjective US /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/

coming after or following

From this reading “The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.”

wisely adverb US /ˈwaɪzli/

in a wise manner

From this reading “HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.”

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.

run the risk verb + article + noun counted as “run … risk”

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

In this reading “You run the risk of being hanged, and your ox of being burned, drowned or devoured, I don't know what they will do with your other animals; for, prophet as I am, I know very little; but do you carefully conceal the serpent, and the fish.”

old woman adjective + noun

a woman who is old

In this reading “The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.”

other animals adjective + noun counted as “other animal”

above water preposition + noun

In this reading “Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading You run the risk of being hanged, and your ox of being burned, drowned or devoured, I don't know what they will do with your other animals; for, prophet as I am, I know very little; but do you carefully conceal the serpent, and the fish.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

animalsnounUS /ˈænəməlz/

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

burnedadjectiveUS /bɜːrnd/

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/

taking care or paying attention

charmingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋ/

pleasing or delighting

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

comfortnounUS /ˈkʌmfərt/

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

companionnounUS /kəmˈpænjən/

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

concealverbUS /kənˈsiːl/

prevent from being seen or discovered

CONDUCTEDverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/

past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

devouredverbUS /dɪˈvaʊərd/

past form of “devour” — destroy completely

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

don't

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

drownedverbUS /draʊnd/

past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

fishnounUS /fɪʃ/

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

hangedverbUS /hæŋd/

past form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

HIMSELFpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

holenounUS /hoʊl/

an opening into or through something

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

MAMBRES

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

From this reading HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/

the one or ones belonging to us

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

oxnounUS /ɑːks/

an adult castrated bull of the genus Bos; especially Bos taurus

princessnounUS /ˈprɪn.ses/

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

professionnounUS /prəˈfeʃən/

the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

prophetnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/

an authoritative person who divines the future

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

risknounUS /rɪsk/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

sagenounUS /seɪdʒ/

a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/

limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/

coming after or following

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

venturenounUS /ˈventʃər/

any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading "My companion," said he to her, "ours is a charming profession, but a very dangerous one.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading Let not the one show his head above water, nor the other venture out of his hole.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

WISEadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

WISELYadverbUS /ˈwaɪzli/

in a wise manner

From this reading HOW THE WISE MAMBRES CONDUCTED HIMSELF WISELY.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading The sage Mambres having said every thing he could to comfort the princess, but without succeeding in so doing, ran to the old woman.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

Chapter 8 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume by Voltaire holds 111 sentences, grouped into 23 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 8 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume contain?

Chapter 8 holds 111 sentences of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume by Voltaire exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 111 sentences, grouped into 23 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 8 of Voltaire's Romances, Complete in One Volume?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #35595, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 600 minutes of reading across 1756 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Chapter VIII

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