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Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert Browning
Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert Browning

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert Browning
Context Illustration Reading 1/67 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.
A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!
5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.
So, for their sake, be May still May!
Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert Browning

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/67 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.
Line 2
A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!
Line 3
5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.
Line 4
So, for their sake, be May still May!
Line 5
Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

Learner Dictionary

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

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.”

Fourth noun US /fourth/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.”

MAY modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.”

Mine pronoun US /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So, for their sake, be May still May!”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.”

All words in this reading · 68

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

10

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

5

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!

all

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

arm

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

Aye

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

bid

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

Charles

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

DEATH

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

delightful

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

deserve

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

died

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

evening-ends

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

foolish

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

From this reading A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

fourthnounUS /fourth/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

friends

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

manifold

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

many

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

MAYmodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

Moon-births

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

new

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

old

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

pair

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

parts

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

perhaps

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

From this reading A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!

sake

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

From this reading So, for their sake, be May still May!

sights

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So, for their sake, be May still May!

sounds

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

spring's

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So, for their sake, be May still May!

Sweet

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading So, for their sake, be May still May!

there

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

things

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!

Three

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

throng

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

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Let their new time, as mine of old, 10 Do all it did for me: I bid Sweet sights and sounds throng manifold.

too

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

warm

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

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading 5 There must be many a pair of friends Who, arm in arm, deserve the warm Moon-births and the long evening-ends.

wish

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

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.

worse

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

From this reading A foolish thought, and worse, perhaps!

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading MAY AND DEATH I wish that when you died last May, Charles, there had died along with you Three parts of spring's delightful things; Aye, and, for me, the fourth part, too.