Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Lost Prince
The Lost Prince

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for The Lost Prince
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!
They held their breaths.
Would the old shepherd get him past the line!
Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.
He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.
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.

The Lost Prince

Chapter IV

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!
Line 2
They held their breaths.
Line 3
Would the old shepherd get him past the line!
Line 4
Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.
Line 5
He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Would the old shepherd get him past the line!”

All words in this reading · 69

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

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

breast

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

breaths

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

From this reading They held their breaths.

bullock

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

carrying

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

cart

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

country

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

felt

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

frontier

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

get

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

From this reading Would the old shepherd get him past the line!

got

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

grip

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

guard

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

heart

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

held

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

From this reading They held their breaths.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Would the old shepherd get him past the line!

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

imagination

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

jumped

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

line

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

From this reading Would the old shepherd get him past the line!

listeners

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

loaded

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

lost

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

man's

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

Marco

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

old

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

From this reading Would the old shepherd get him past the line!

out

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

past

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

From this reading Would the old shepherd get him past the line!

present

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

prince

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

recital

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

sheepskins

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

shepherd

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

From this reading Would the old shepherd get him past the line!

smuggling

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They held their breaths.

then

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They held their breaths.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

thrilled

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

unconscious

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

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He felt as if he had, and as this was the first time he had ever told it to thrilled listeners, his imagination got him in its grip, and his heart jumped in his breast as he was sure the old man's must have done when the guard stopped his cart and asked him what he was carrying out of the country.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Marco, who was lost in the recital himself, told it as if he had been present.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And then the smuggling across the frontier of the unconscious prince in the bullock cart loaded with sheepskins!

Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Would the old shepherd get him past the line!