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Verses 1889-1896
Verses 1889-1896

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Verses 1889-1896
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!
“The charge is old”?
-- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?
If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.
“Our friends believe”?
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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.

Verses 1889-1896

Chapter IX

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!
Line 2
“The charge is old”?
Line 3
-- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?
Line 4
If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.
Line 5
“Our friends believe”?

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading ““Our friends believe”?”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “-- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!”

Yours pronoun US /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading “Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!”

All words in this reading · 70

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

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

all

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

away

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

ball

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Our friends believe”?

bell-wether

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

bleat

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

blundering

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

break

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

Cain

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

charge

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

From this reading “The charge is old”?

Commandments

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

curse

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

daub

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

death

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

find

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

fresh

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

friends

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

From this reading “Our friends believe”?

glistens

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

go

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

Hold

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

innocence

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “The charge is old”?

it's

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

laws

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

old

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “Our friends believe”?

pen

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

powder

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

scare

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

sends

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

sheep

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

shot

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

snuff

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

sped

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

spoke

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

taint

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

talked

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

tar

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

TellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

Ten

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

together

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

tripping

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

tups

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

up

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

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

words

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

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

yepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

yesterday

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

From this reading -- As old as Cain -- as fresh as yesterday; Old as the Ten Commandments -- have ye talked those laws away?

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If words are words, or death is death, or powder sends the ball, You spoke the words that sped the shot -- the curse be on you all.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!

yourspronounUS /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading Hold up those hands of innocence -- go, scare your sheep together, The blundering, tripping tups that bleat behind the old bell-wether; And if they snuff the taint and break to find another pen, Tell them it's tar that glistens so, and daub them yours again!