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To Have and to Hold
To Have and to Hold

Chapter I · In Which I Throw Ambs-Ace

Cover illustration for To Have and to Hold
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.
Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.
The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.
Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.
The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet.
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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.

To Have and to Hold

Chapter I · In Which I Throw Ambs-Ace

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.
Line 2
Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.
Line 3
The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.
Line 4
Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.
Line 5
The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet.

Learner Dictionary

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

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.”

Pipe noun US /pipe/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.”

All words in this reading · 92

Every word is available to listen to. 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 birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

all

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

assert

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

away

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

awhile

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

birds

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

black

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

brighten

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

call

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

cool

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

damned

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

day

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

Death

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

doorstep

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

down

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

droop

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

From this reading The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet.

English

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

evening

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

fowl

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

frogs

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

hand

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

horned

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

hour

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

howl

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

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

hushed

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

laid

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

From this reading The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet.

land

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

Later

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

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

leaves

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

From this reading The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet.

monster

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

more

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

now

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

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

ominous

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

owls

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

panther

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

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

pipe

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

quiet

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

From this reading The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

restless

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

From this reading The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet.

sat

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

scream

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

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

silent

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

sing

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

slowly

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

softly

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

some

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

sound

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

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

spirit

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

stars

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

strange

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

sun

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

sunk

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

there

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

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

trees

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

Virginian

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

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Death is not more still than is this Virginian land in the hour when the sun has sunk away, and it is black beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

whippoorwill

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

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

winds

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

From this reading The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet.

wolf

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

From this reading Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream, but now there is no sound.

work

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

From this reading THE work of the day being over, I sat down upon my doorstep, pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit damned) which we English call the whippoorwill, are yet silent.