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William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare

Chapter II

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Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!
Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?
My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."
There is no other poetry of this intensity in the play.
It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
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/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

William Shakespeare

Chapter II

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!
Line 2
Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?
Line 3
My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."
Line 4
There is no other poetry of this intensity in the play.
Line 5
It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."”

Body noun US /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."”

Shouldst modal verb US /ʃʊdst/

an old form of “should”, used with “thou”

From this reading “"How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!”

Thee pronoun US /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading “"How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!”

Thou pronoun US /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading “"How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!”

Thy determiner US /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading “My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “"How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!”

Wouldst modal verb US /wʊdst/

an old form of “would”, used with “thou”

From this reading “Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?”

All words in this reading · 80

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

bodynounUS /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

brow

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

compare

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

From this reading It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.

consecrate

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

contaminate

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

crime

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

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

cut

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

dearly

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

description

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

From this reading It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.

digest

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

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

Epidamnum

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

From this reading It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.

face

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

false

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

flesh

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

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

hand

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

harlot

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

How

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

hurl

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

husband

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

intensity

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

From this reading There is no other poetry of this intensity in the play.

interesting

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

From this reading It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

licentious

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

lust

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.

mingled

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

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There is no other poetry of this intensity in the play.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

off

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

other

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

From this reading There is no other poetry of this intensity in the play.

Plautus's

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

From this reading It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.

play

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

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

poetry

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

From this reading There is no other poetry of this intensity in the play.

poison

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

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

quick

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

ruffian

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

Shakespeare's

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

From this reading It is interesting to compare Shakespeare's mind with Plautus's in the description of Epidamnum.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

Shouldstmodal verbUS /ʃʊdst/

an old form of “should”, used with “thou”

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

skin

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

spit

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

spurn

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

stain'd

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

tear

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

There

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

From this reading There is no other poetry of this intensity in the play.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

touch

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

two

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

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

wedding-ring

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

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading My blood is mingled with the crime of lust: For, if we two be one, and thou play false, I do digest the poison of thy flesh."

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "How dearly it would touch thee to the quick, Shouldst thou but hear I were licentious, And that this body, consecrate to thee, By ruffian lust should be contaminate!

Wouldstmodal verbUS /wʊdst/

an old form of “would”, used with “thou”

From this reading Wouldst them not spit at me and spurn at me, And hurl the name of husband in my face, And tear the stain'd skin off my harlot brow, And from my false hand cut the wedding-ring...?