Chapter 23 of Zanoni is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIII
Chapter 23 of Zanoni is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet? “Aeneid,” lib. vi. 574. (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?) And it is profound night.
Chapter 23 of Zanoni is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
an epic in Latin by Virgil; tells the adventures of Aeneas after the Trojan War; provides an illustrious historical background for the Roman Empire
From this reading ““Aeneid,” lib. vi.”
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading “(See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)”
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading “And it is profound night.”
third-person singular of “sit” — be seated
From this reading “(See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)”
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading “(See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)”
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading “(See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)”
plural of “watch” — a small portable timepiece
From this reading “(See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)”
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading “(See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 574.
an epic in Latin by Virgil; tells the adventures of Aeneas after the Trojan War; provides an illustrious historical background for the Roman Empire
From this reading “Aeneid,” lib. vi.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And it is profound night.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And it is profound night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And it is profound night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Aeneid,” lib. vi.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading And it is profound night.
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading And it is profound night.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
third-person singular of “sit” — be seated
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cernis, custodia qualis Vestibulo sedeat? facies quae limina servet?
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading “Aeneid,” lib. vi.
plural of “watch” — a small portable timepiece
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
used to ask for information about something
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading (See you what porter sits within the vestibule?--what face watches at the threshold?)
Chapter 23 of Zanoni by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 120 sentences, grouped into 24 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 23 holds 120 sentences of Zanoni, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 23 of Zanoni by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 120 sentences, grouped into 24 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.
Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 24 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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.
Common questions about reading Zanoni by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 7736 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2664 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #2664, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1548 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Zanoni section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of Zanoni to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Zanoni, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
