Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Within the Temple of Isis
Within the Temple of Isis

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Within the Temple of Isis is here in full — 53 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Within the Temple of Isis
Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE REVELATION OF THE ASTROLOGER.
Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.
The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.
Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.
Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.
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.

Within the Temple of Isis

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Within the Temple of Isis is here in full — 53 sentences across 11 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE REVELATION OF THE ASTROLOGER.
/ðə ˌrevəˈleɪʃən ʌv ðə əˈstrɑːlədʒər/
Line 2
Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.
/ˌɔːlˈðoʊ ðə ˈaʊər wɑːz ˈveri leɪt nɪr ˈmɪdnaɪt ðə ˈpriːstəs hæd dʒʌst rɪˈtaɪrd tuː hɜːr əˈpɑːrtmənts fɔːr riˈpoʊz/
Line 3
The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.
/ðə raɪts ʌv ðə deɪ hæd bɪn ekˈstriːmli lɔːŋ ənd fəˈtiːɡɪŋ æz ðeɪ ˈɔːlweɪz wɜːr fɔːr ə ˈpriːstəs ʌv ˈaɪsəs əˈtendənt əˈpɑːn ðə ˈberiəl ˈsɜːrvəs ʌv wʌn ɪn haɪ ræŋk ənd ə ɡreɪt ˈnoʊbəlmən ʌv ðə lænd æz wel æz ə nɪr ˈrelətɪv ʌv ðə ˈpriːstəs hərˈself hæd bɪn ˈberid ðæt deɪ/
Line 4
Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.
Line 5
Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

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.

astrologer noun US /əˈstrɑːlədʒər/

someone who predicts the future by the positions of the planets and sun and Moon

From this reading “THE REVELATION OF THE ASTROLOGER.”

beseeching adjective US /biˈsiːtʃɪŋ/

begging

From this reading “Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.”

Chants noun US /tʃænts/

plural of “chant” — a repetitive song in which as many syllables as necessary are assigned to a single tone

From this reading “Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.”

fatiguing verb US /fəˈtiːɡɪŋ/

-ing form of “fatigue” — lose interest or become bored with something or somebody

From this reading “The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.”

Isis noun US /ˈaɪsəs/

Egyptian goddess of fertility; daughter of Geb; sister and wife of Osiris

From this reading “The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.”

Litany noun US /ˈlɪtəni/

any long and tedious address or recital

From this reading “Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.”

Priestess noun US /ˈpriːstəs/

a woman priest

From this reading “Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.”

Vestal adjective US /ˈvestəl/

of or relating to Vesta

From this reading “Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.”

All words in this reading · 103

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 The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

AlthoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

apartmentsnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənts/

plural of “apartment” — a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

assemblynounUS /əˈsembli/

a group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

assistedadjectiveUS /əˈsɪstɪd/

having help; often used as a combining form

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

ASTROLOGERnounUS /əˈstrɑːlədʒər/

someone who predicts the future by the positions of the planets and sun and Moon

From this reading THE REVELATION OF THE ASTROLOGER.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

attendantnounUS /əˈtendənt/

someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

beseechingadjectiveUS /biˈsiːtʃɪŋ/

begging

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

burialnounUS /ˈberiəl/

the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

buriedadjectiveUS /ˈberid/

placed in a grave

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

ChantsnounUS /tʃænts/

plural of “chant” — a repetitive song in which as many syllables as necessary are assigned to a single tone

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

courtsnounUS /kɔːrts/

plural of “court” — an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

extremelyadverbUS /ekˈstriːmli/

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

failedverbUS /feɪld/

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

fatiguingverbUS /fəˈtiːɡɪŋ/

-ing form of “fatigue” — lose interest or become bored with something or somebody

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

grandeurnounUS /ɡrænˈduːr/

the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

handmaidnoun

in a subordinate position

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

hastilyadverbUS /ˈheɪstəli/

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

impressiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpresɪv/

making a strong or vivid impression

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

IsisnounUS /ˈaɪsəs/

Egyptian goddess of fertility; daughter of Geb; sister and wife of Osiris

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

LitanynounUS /ˈlɪtəni/

any long and tedious address or recital

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

midnightnounUS /ˈmɪdnaɪt/

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

mingledverbUS /ˈmɪŋɡəld/

past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

moannounUS /moʊn/

an utterance expressing pain or disapproval

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

namelyadverbUS /ˈneɪmli/

as follows

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

noblemannounUS /ˈnoʊbəlmən/

a titled peer of the realm

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE REVELATION OF THE ASTROLOGER.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

personaladjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrsɪnəl/

concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

pitiableadjectiveUS /ˈpɪtiəbəl/

inspiring mixed contempt and pity

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

PriestessnounUS /ˈpriːstəs/

a woman priest

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

ranknounUS /ræŋk/

a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/

a person related by blood or marriage

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

reposeverbUS /riˈpoʊz/

put or confide something in a person or thing

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

restingverbUS /ˈrestɪŋ/

-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/

no longer active in your work or profession

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

REVELATIONnounUS /ˌrevəˈleɪʃən/

the speech act of making something evident

From this reading THE REVELATION OF THE ASTROLOGER.

RitesnounUS /raɪts/

plural of “rite” — an established ceremony prescribed by a religion

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

Sarthia

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

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

solemnadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləm/

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

sorrownounUS /ˈsɑːroʊ/

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

specialadjectiveUS /ˈspeʃəl/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

strangelyadverbUS /ˈstreɪndʒli/

in a strange manner

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

TemplenounUS /ˈtempəl/

place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE REVELATION OF THE ASTROLOGER.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

ThusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

VestaladjectiveUS /ˈvestəl/

of or relating to Vesta

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

wanderedverbUS /ˈwɑːndərd/

past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Although the hour was very late, near midnight, the Priestess had just retired to her apartments for repose.

weightnounUS /weɪt/

the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The Rites of the day had been extremely long and fatiguing, as they always were for a Priestess of Isis attendant upon the burial service of one in high rank; and a great nobleman of the land, as well as a near relative of the Priestess herself, had been buried that day.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

withdrawnadjectiveUS /wɪθˈdrɔːn/

withdrawn from society; seeking solitude

From this reading Sarthia, who at the very beginning of the Chants and Litany, had failed in her part and had, with such a pitiable moan and beseeching glance at her, been hastily withdrawn from the assembly and assisted to the private courts.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Thus personal sorrow had mingled with and added weight to the impressive and solemn grandeur of the occasion, yet, strangely enough her mind was neither with the events of the day nor the dead, but her thoughts were resting now where they had wandered many times throughout the day, namely, to her little handmaid and special attendant, as well as Vestal in the Temple, Sarthia.

Chapter 1 of Within the Temple of Isis by Belle M. Wagner holds 53 sentences, grouped into 11 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 1 of Within the Temple of Isis contain?

Chapter 1 holds 53 sentences of Within the Temple of Isis, unabridged, divided into 11 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Within the Temple of Isis by Belle M. Wagner exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 53 sentences, grouped into 11 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 1 of Within the Temple of Isis?

Work through the 11 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 11 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Within the Temple of Isis

Common questions about reading Within the Temple of Isis by Belle M. Wagner on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Within the Temple of Isis?

Yes. All 823 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #17182 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Within the Temple of Isis is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #17182, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Within the Temple of Isis take to read?

About 68 minutes of reading across 165 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Within the Temple of Isis section by section

How to work through Within the Temple of Isis section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of Within the Temple of Isis 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 Within the Temple of Isis

Words and structures a reader meets early in Within the Temple of Isis, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Revelation
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Within the Temple of Isis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Astrologer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Within the Temple of Isis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Although
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Within the Temple of Isis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Midnight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Within the Temple of Isis; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.