Section 115 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville Kleiser, read for LibriVox.org by Rohanna Green on July 8, 2007, in Toronto, Canada. Like the awful shadow of some unseen power. Like the bellowing of bulls. Like the boar encircled by hunters and hounds. Like the bubbles on a river sparkling, bursting, borne away. Like the cold breath of the grave. Like the creaking of doors held stealthily ajar. Like the cry of an itinerant vendor in a quiet and picturesque town.  Like the dawn of the morn. Like the detestable and spidery arcaria. Like the dew on the mountain. Like the dim scent in violets. Like the drifting foam of a restless sea when the waves show their teeth in the flying breeze. Like the embodiment of a perfect rose complete in form and fragrance. Like the faint cry of unassisted woe. Like the faint exquisite music of a dream. Like the fair flower disheveled in the wind. Like the fair sun when in his fresh array he cheers the morn and all the earth revealeth. Like the falling thud of the blade of a murderous axe. Like the fierce fiend of a distempered dream. Like the fitting of an old glove to a hand. Like the foam on the river. Like the great thunder sounding. Like the jangling of all the strings of some musical instrument. Like the jewels that gleam in baby eyes. Like the kiss of maiden love the breeze is sweet and bland. Like the long wandering love the weary heart may faint for rest. Like the moon in water seen by night. Like the music in the patter of small feet. Like the prodigal whom wealth softens into imbecility. Like the quivering image of a landscape in a flowing stream. Like the rainbow thou didst fade. Like the rustling of grain moved by the west wind. Like the sap that turns to nectar in the velvet of the peach. Like the sea whose waves are set in motion by the winds. Like the sea worm that perforates the shell of the muscle straight away closes the wound with a pearl. Like the setting of a tropical sun. Like the shadow of a great hill that reaches far out over the plain. Like the shadows of stars in the upheaved sea. Like the shutter of a doomed soul. Like the silver gleam when the poplar trees rustle their pale leaves listlessly. Like the soft light of an autumnal day. Like the springtime fresh and green. Like the stern lights of a ship at sea illuminating only the path which has been passed over. Like the sudden impulse of a madman. Like the swell of summer's ocean. Like the tattered effigy in a cornfield. Like the vase in which roses have once been distilled. Like the visits of angels short and far between. Like the whole sky went to the east the morning doth return. Like thistles of the wilderness fit neither for food nor fuel. Like those great rivers whose course everyone beholds but their springs have been seen by but few. Like thoughts whose very sweetness yielded proof that they were born for immortality. Like two diamonds her white teeth shone between the parted lips. Like torrents from a mountain source we rushed into each other's arms. Like troops of ghosts on the dry wind passed. Like two doves with silvery wings let our souls fly. Like two flaming stars were his eyes. Like vaporous shapes have seen. Like village currs that bark when their fellows do. Like wasted hours of youth. Like winds that bear sweet music when they breathe through some dim lattice chamber. Like wine stain to a flask the old distrust still clings. Like winged stars the fireflies flash in glance. Like young lovers whom youth and love make dear. Lingering like an unloved guest. Lithe as a panther. Little white hands like pearls. Lofty as a queen. Loneliness struck him like a blow. Looked back with faithful eyes like a great mastiff to his master's face. Looking as silky as the weather itself. Looking like a snarling beast balked of its prey. Loose clouds like earth's decaying leaves are shed. Lost like the lightning in the sullen clawed. Love as clean as starlight. Love brilliant as the morning. Love had like the canker worm consumed her early prime. Love is a changing lord as the light on a turning sword. Love like a child around the world doth run. Love like a miser in the dark his joys would hide. Love shakes like a windy reed your heart. Love smiled like an unclouded sun. Love that sings and has wings as a bird. Lovely as starry water. Lovely the land unknown and like a river flowing. End of section 115. This recording is in the public domain. Section 116 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville Kleiser. Read for LibriVox.org by Sarah Jennings. March on my soul, nor like the laggard's day. Me on whose heart as a worm she trod. Meaningless as the syllables of an unknown tongue. Men moved hither and thither like insects in their crevices. Mentality as hard as bronze. Mentally round-shouldered and decrepit. Merge imperceptibly into one another like the hues of the prism. Meteors that dart like screaming birds. Milk-white pavements clear and richly pale like alabaster. More variegated than the skin of a serpent. Motion like the spirit of that wind whose soft step deepens slumber. Motionless as a plum-line. Mountains like frozen wrinkles on a sea. Moving in the same dull round like blind horses in a mill. Mute as an iceberg. My age is as a lusty winter. My body broken as a turning wheel. My breath to heaven like vapor goes. My head was like a great bronze bell with one thought for the clapper. My heart is as some famine-murdered land. My heart is like a full sponge and must weep a little. My heart like a bird doth hover. My heart will be as wind fainting in the hot grass. My life floweth away like a river. My life was white as driven snow. My love for thee is like the sovereign moon that rules the sea. My love's like the steadfast sun. My lungs began to crow like Chanticleer. My mind swayed idly like a water lily in a lake. My muscles are as steel. My skin is as sallow as gold. My soul was as a lampless sea. My spirit seemed to beat the void like the bird from out the ark. My thoughts came yapping and growling round me like a pack of currs. My thoughts ran leaping through the green ways of my mind like fawns at play. Night falls like fire. No longer shall slander's venom to spite crawl like a snake across his perfect name. Now every nerve in my body seemed like a strained harp-string ready to snap at a touch. Now like a wild nymph she veils her shadowy form. Now like a wild rose in the fields of heaven slipped forth the slender figure of the dawn. Now memory and emotion surged in my soul like a tempest.  Obscured with wrath, as is the sun with cloud, odorous as all Arabia, often enough life tosses like a fretful stream among rocky boulders. Oh, lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud, old as the evening star, old happy hours that have long folded their wings. Once again like madness the black shapes of doubt swing through his brain.   Presently she hovered like a fluttering leaf or flake of snow. Pride and self-disgust served her like first-aid surgeons on the battlefield, proud as the proudest of church dignitaries, pure as a wildflower, pure as the azure above them, pure as the naked heavens, pure as the snowy leaves that fold over the flower's heart. Purple crimson and scarlet like the curtains of God's tabernacle, put on gravity like a robe, quaking and quivering like a short-haired puppy after a ducking, questions and answers sounding like a continuous popping of quirks, quiet as a nun's face, quietly as a cloud he stole, quietude which seemed to him beautiful as clear depths of water, quivering like an eager race-horse to start. Section 117 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Granville Kaiser read for Librebox.org by Sandra Zera. R. Rage, rage yet is that nevermore should creep like hounds about God's food stall. Run like a young foam. Rattle in the ear like a flourish of trumpets. Race springing from the east like golden arrows. Red as the print of a kiss might be. Riddle and with the homely scent of old-fashioned herbs and flowers. Reflected each in the other like stars in a lake. Refreshed like dusty grass after a shower. Refreshing as the sending rains to sunburned climbs. Remote as the hidden star. Restless as a blue-battle fly on a warm summer's day. Revolt his doings like dose of bees in a glass hive. Reach as the dome. Ride like the wind through the night. Reverse that like silver frets run through the green and gold of pasture lands. Roat like mountain torrents. Rolling it under the tongue as a sweet morsel.  Ready as sunrise. Ready his face as the morning light. Ruffling out his crevice with a crackle of starch like a turkey when it spreads its feathers. Running to and fro like frightened ship. Rushing and hurrying about like a dune bug. S. Sanctuaries where the patients may like wild falcons cover their faces with their wings. Things that stir the blood like the sound of a trumpet. Scattered love as stars do light. Seagulls flying like flakes of the sea. Sentences level and straight like a hairless lens. Shadowy faces known in dreams pass as petals upon a stream. Shake like an aspen leaf. Shake enough like a nightmare.  Shattered like so much glass.  She could summon tears as one summons servants. She danced like a flower in the wind. She disclaimed wariness that dragged upon her spirits like cladden wades. She exuded a faint and intoxicating perfume of womanliness like a crushed herb. She felt like an unrepentant criminal. She fled like a spirit from the room. She flanders like a huge conger eel in an ocean of dingy morality.   She has grey eyes like the doe. She heard him like one in a dream. She let the soft waves of her deep hair fall like flowers from paradise. She looked like a tall golden candle. She looked like the picture of a young wrapped saint lost in heavenly musing. She moved like mirth incarnate.  She played with a hundred possibilities, fitfully and discursively as a musician runs his fingers over a keyboard. She played with grave cabinets as a cat plays with a mouse. She saw this planet like a star hung in the glistening depths of heaven. She seemed as happy as a wave that dances on the sea. She shall be sportive as the phone. She stood silent a moment dropping before him like a broken branch. She that passed had lips like pinks. She walked like a galley slave. She walks in beauty like the night. She was as brilliant and as hard too as electric light.  Shining like the dewy star of dawn. Shivering pine trees like phantoms. Shall we as demos cross and shine as mask? Shreel as the loon's call. Shrivel like paper thrust into a flame. Shy as the squirrel. Sight seen as a travelling swallow might see them on the wing. Silence deep as death. Silence now is a brooding like a gentle spirit over the still and pulseless world. Silence that seemed heavy and dark like a passing cloud. Sinks glomerals like mill waters at wild play. Sits like the maniac on his fancy throne. Skies as clear as baby's eyes. Slick and thick and yellow as gold. Slender and thin as a slender wire. Slowly as a tortoise. Slowly as the finger of a clock her shadow came. Slowly moved off and disappeared like shapes breathed on a mirror and melting away. Slowly unnoted like the creeping rust that spreads inside you had its strange man come. Small as the grain of mustard seed. Smooth as a pond. Smooth as the pillow flushing in the sun. Snack as a buck in a rug. Soaring as swift as smoke from a volcano springs. So elusive that the memory of it afterwards was once to come and go like a flash of light. So my spirit bit itself like a caged bird against its prison bath in vain. Soft as a sepher. Soft as sleep the snow fell. Soft as spring. Soft as the dawn of the turtle dove. Soft as the landscape of a dream. Soft as the south wind. Soft in their color as gray perils. Soft vibrations of verbal melody like the sound of a golden bell rang far down under the hamming waters. Some gleams of thinning pure and warm as sunshine and a sky of stone. Some like wild ghosts hurrying past as though driven to the land of shadows by shattering fear. Some minds are like an open fire how direct and instant our communication with them. Something divine seemed to cling around her like some supple vapor. Something resistant and inert like the obstinate rolling over of a heavy sleeper after he has been called to get up. Something sharp and brilliant like the glitter of a sword or a forked flesh of lightning. Sorrowful eyes like those of worried kind spent from the plowing. Spread like wildfire. Squirreling the cage kind of movement. Stamping like a plowman to shuffle off the snow. Stirred about like calves in a pen. Steadfast as the soul of truth. Still slingering like a ripple smooth. Still as death. Stood like a wave bitten rock. Straight as a ray of light. Straight as an arrow. Streamed like a meteor through the troubled air. Streamed over his memory like a forest flame. Streaming tears like pearl drops from a flint. Striking with the force of an engine of distraction. Strong as a bosom. Style comes if at all like the bloom upon fruit or the glow of half upon the chick. Supple as jealousy. Suddenly a thought came like a full blown rose flashing his brow. Sudden sprays of rain like volleys of sharp arrows rattled castley against windows. Suddenly like death the truth flashed on them. Sunbeams flashing on the face of things like sudden smilings of divine delight. Sunday mornings which seem to put on like a sub of garment an atmosphere of divine quietude. Supple and sweet as a rose in a bloom. Sway like a blown morphs against the rose white flame. Sweet as a summer night without a breath. Sweet as music she spoke. Sweet as the rain at noon. Sweet as the smile of a fairy. Swift as a swallow heading south. Swift as lightning. Swift as the panther in shelf. Swift third in the twinkling of an eye. End of section 117. This recording is in the public domain. This is LibriVox Recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Section 118 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Greenville Kleiser. LibriVox.org by Marwa Gamel on the 23rd of June 2007. Talking and thinking became to him like the open page of a monthly magazine. Tall landslide creeds wave sadly over his head. That like a wounded snake drags its slow length along. The animal that weeps at daybreak like a silly girl before her lover. The army blazed and glowed in the golden sunlight. Like a mosaic of a hundred thousand jewels. The army like a witch's cauldron feast. The beating of her heart was like a drum. The beauty of her quiet life was like a rose in blowing. The curling worth like a turban seam. Dark hours are swept away like crumbling ashes. The dark mass of her hair shook round her like a sea. The down is rising from the sea like a white lady from her bed. The down had whitened in the mist like a dead face. The down with silver sandaled feet crept like a frightened girl. She stunned me like light upon some wizard way. The day was sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. The day have trampled me like armed men. The dead past flew away over the fins like a flight of wild swans. The deep like one black maelstrom round her worlds. The deepening est like a scarlet puppy burnt. Like rocky hills rolled like a solid wave along the horizon. The doom of heaven is like one drop of dew. The dreams of poets come like music heard at evening from the depths of some enchanted forest. The eagerness faded from his eyes, leaving them cold as winter sky after sunset. The earth was like a frying pan or some such hissing matter. The eternal sea, which like a childless mother, still must crawl on her ancient sorrows to the cold white moon. The evening sky was as green as red. The excitement has spread through the whole house like a peckant and aggrable odour. The excitement of the thought buoyed his high strong temperament like a tonic. The feathery meadows like a lilac sea. The firm body like a slop of snow. The first whiff of reality dissipated them like smoke. The floor newly waxed, gleamed in the candlelight like beaten moonbeams. The fragrant clouds of hair, they flew drawn to him like a snare. The gathering glory of life shone like the dawn. The gesture was all strength and will, like the stretching of a sea bird's wings. The girl's voice rang like a bird call through his rustling fantasies. The glimmer of tall flowers tending like pensive moon worshippers in an ecstasy of praless bloom. The guides sniffed like comas the air. The heavens are like a scroll unfurled. The hills across the valley were purple, a thunder clouds.  The hours crawled by like years. The hum of the camp sounds like the sea. The hurrying crowds of men gather like clouds. The ideas succeeded each other like a dynasty of kings. The impalibable presence of the new century rose like a vast empty house through which no human feet has whooped. The inexorable facts closed in on him like prison warders handcuffing a convict. The lake glimmered as still as a mirror. The land of gold seemed to hold him like a spell. The land was like a dream. The level bows like bars of iron across the setting sun. The light of London flaring like a dreary down. The lights blazed up like day. The lilies were dropping white and worn like the head and skin of a dying man. The mellowing hand of time. The melody rose tenderly and lingerly like hunting perfume and pressed flowers. The milky way lay like diamond dust upon the rope of some great king. The monk's face whitened like sea foam. The moon drowsed between the trees like a great yellow moth. The moon on the tower slept soft as snow. The moon beam rests like a pale spotless shroud. The moonlight lay like snow. The moon light like a fairy mist upon the mesa spreads. The mortal cloudness of the soul like death itself comes down. The mountain shadows mingling lay like pools above the earth. The mountains loomed up deemly like phantoms through the mist. The music almost died away. Then it brushed like a pent up flood in the end of reading. The night like a battle broken host is driven before. The night yawned like a foul wind. The ocean swelled like an undulating mirror of the bowl of heaven. The old books look somewhat pathetically from the shelves like aged dogs wondering why no one takes them for a walk. The old infamy will pop into daylight like a toad out of fissure in the rock. The penalty falls like a thunderbolt from heaven. The phrase was like a spear thrust. The pine trees waved as waves of woman's hair. The place was like some enchanted town of palaces. The plains to northward change their color like the shimmering necks of doves. The poppy burned like a crimson ember. The prime of man has waxed like cedars. The public press would chatter and make odd ambiguous sounds like a shipload of monkeys in a storm.  The rainbows flashed like fire.  The roofs with their gables like hoods. The roses lie upon the grass like little shreds of crimson silk. The satire of the word cut like a knife. The skullion with face shining like his pans. The sea reeled round like a wine vat splashing. The sea song of the trampling waves is as muffled bells. The sea spread out like a wrinkled marble floor. The sea that gleamed still like a myriad petaled rose. The sea was as untroubled as the turquoise vault which it reflected. The setting of the sun is like a word of peace. The sharp hail rattles against the panes and melts on my cheeks like tears. The ships like sheeted phantoms coming and going. The silence seemed to crush to earth like a great looking glass and shiver into a million pieces. The silvery morning like a tranquil vision fills the world. The sky burned like a heated opal. The sky gleamed with the hardness and brilliancy of blue enamel. The sky was as a shield that caught the stain of blood in battle from the dying sun. The sky was clear and blue in the air as soft as milk. The sky was like a peach. The sky where stars like lilies white and fair shine through the mist. The solid air around me there heaved like a roaring ocean. The solid mountains gleamed like the unsteady sea. The soul is like a well of water springing up into an everlasting life. The sound is like a noonday gale. The sound is like a silver fountain that springeth in a golden basin. The sound of a thousand tears like softly pattering wings. The sound of your running feet that like the sea hoofs beat. The spear-tongued lightning slipped like a snake. The spring breaks like a bird. The stacks of corn in brown array like tattered wigwams on the plane. The stars come down and trembling glow like blossoms on the waves below. The stars lay on the lapis lazuli sky like white flower petals on still deep water. The stars pale and silent as a seer. The strange cold scents of aloofness that had numbed her senses suddenly gave way like snow melting in the spring. The sudden thought of your face is like a wound when it comes unsought. The sun like a great dragon rides in gold. The sun on the sea wave lies white as the moon. The surf was like the advancing lines of an unknown enemy flinging itself upon the shore. The terrible past lay afar like a dream left behind in the night. The tide was in the saltweed and like a knife it tore. The time gliding like a dream. The torrent from the hills leaped down their rocky stairways like wild steeds. A tree whose plumed boughs are soft as wings of birds. The uproar and contention pierced him like arrows. The veiled future bowed before me like a vision of promise. The velvet grass that is like padding on earth's meager ribs. The villa dips its foot in the lake smiling at its reflection like a bather lingering on the brink.  The voice that rings in the night like a bugle call.  The waves were rolling in long and lazy like seaworn travelers. The whole truth naked cold and fatal as a patriot's blade. The wind all round their ears hissed like a flight of white-winged geese. The wind comes and it draws its length along like the geni from the earthen pot. The wine flows like blood. The woman seemed like a thing of stone. The words kept ringing in my ears like the tolling of a bell. The words of the wise fall like the tolling of sweet grave bells upon the soul. The world has vanished like a phantasmagoria. The world is bitter as a tear. The world is in a simmer like a sea. The world wavers within its circle like a dream. The years stretched before her like some vast blank page out to receive the record of her toil. The years vanished like a mace no drift. The yellow apples glowed like fire. Their glances met like crossed swords. Their joy like sunshine deep and broad falls on my heart. Their minds rested upon the thought as chasing butterflies might rest together on a flower. Their music frightful as the serpents hiss. Their touch frights me as a serpents sting. Then fall unheeded like the faded flower. Then felt I like some watcher of the skies. Then it swelled out to rich and glorious harmonies like a full orchestra playing under the sea. Then the lover sighing like furnace. Why 2007 Striking similes Theories sprouted in his mind like mushrooms. There is an air about you like the air that folds a star. There like a bird it sits and sings. There seemed to brood in the air a quiet benevolence of a father watching his myriad children at play. There she soars like a seraph. There she stood straight as a lily on its stem. There slowly rose to sight a country like a dragon fast asleep. There streamed into the air the sweet smell of crushed grass as though many fields had been pressed between giants fingers and so had been left. These eyes like stars have led me. These final words snapped like a whiplash. These thoughts pierced me like thorns. They are as cruel as creeping tigers. They are as white foam on the swept sands. They are as white swans in the dusk, by white hands. They are painted sharp as death. They broke into pieces and fell on the ground like a silvery shimmering shower of hail. They dropped like panthers. They fly like spray. They had hands like claws. They had slipped away like visions. They have as many principles as a fish has bones. They have faces like flowers. They hurried down like plovers that have heard the call.  They seem like swarming flies, the crowd of little men. They seemed like floating flowers. They shine as sweet as simple doves. They stand like solitary mountain forms on some hard perfectly transparent day. They vanished like the shapes that float upon a summer's dream. Thick as wind-blown leaves innumerable. Thickly the flakes drive past, each like a childish ghost. Thine eyes like two twin stars shining. This life is like a bubble blown up in the air. This love that dwells like moonlight in your face. This thought is as death. This tower rose in the sunset like a prayer. Those ancestral themes past which so many generations have slept, like sea-going winds over pastures. Those death-like eyes unconscious of the sun.  Those eyes like bridal beacons shine. Thou art to me but as a wave of the wild sea. Thou is heaven, art fair and young. Thou hast a voice whose sound was like the sea. Thou must wither like a rose. Thou shalt be as free as mountain winds. Thou would sweep tears bitter as blood. Though bright as silver, the meridian beams shine. Thou thou be black as night. Thoughts vague as the fitful breeze. Three-cornered notes fly about like butterflies. Through the forest, like a fairy dream through some dark mind, the ferns in branching beauty stream. Through the moonlit trees, like ghosts of sounds, haunting the moonlight, stole the faint tinkle of a guitar. Through the riot of his senses, like a silver blaze, ran the legend. Thy beauty, like a beast it bites. Thy brown, benignant eyes have sudden gleams of gladness and surprise, like woodland brooks that cross a sunlit spot. Thy carbon columns must have grown by magic, like a dream and stone. Thy favors are but like the wind that kisses everything it meets. Thy heart as light as a leaf of a tree. Thy name burns like a gray and flickering candle flame. Thy name will be as honey on men's lips. Till death, like sleep might steal on me. Till he melted like a cloud in the silent summer heaven. Time drops in decay like a candle burnt out. Time, like a pulse, shakes fierce. To drag life on, which, like a heavy chain, lengthens behind with many a link of pain. To forsake as the trees drop their leaves in autumn. Toys with smooth trifles, like a child at play. Transatory as clouds without substance. Transparent like a shining sun. Tree and shrub altered their values and became transmuted to silver sentinels. Trees that spread their forked boughs like stags antlers. Trembling like an aspen leaf. Truths which forever shine as fixed stars. Turning easily and securely as on a perfect axle. End of Section 120 of 15,000 Useful Phrases. This recording is in the public domain. Section 121 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville-Kleiser. Read for LibriVox.org by Scott Colford of JustGiblets.com, Boston, Massachusetts. You. Unbends like a loosened bow. Unbreakable as iron. Unconscious as an oak tree of its growth. Under the willow tree glimmered her face like a foam flake drifting over the sea. Unheralded, like some tornado, loosed out of the brooding hills it came to pass. Unknown like a seed in fallow ground was the germ of a plan. Unmoving as a tombstone. Untamable as flies. Unutterable things pressing on my soul like a pent-up storm craving for outlet. Upcast like foam of the effacing tide. Uplifting the soul as on dove-like wings. Uplifting their stony peaks around us like the walls and turrets of a gigantic fortress. Urgent as the seas. Uttering wild cries like a creature in pain. V. Vague as a dream. Vague thoughts that stream shapelessly through her mind like long sad vapors through the twilight sky. Vanish into thin air like ghosts at the cockroach. Vanished like snow when comes a thaw. Vanished like vapor before the sun. Vibrations set quivering like harp strings struck by the hand of a master. Vosiferous praise following like a noisy wave. W. Walking somewhat unsteadily like a blind man feeling his way. Waves glittered and danced on all sides like millions of diamonds. We left her and retraced our steps like faithless hounds. Weak and frail like the vapor of a veil. Wearing their wounds like stars. Weary wind who wanderst like the world's rejected guest. When a draft might puff them out like a guttering candle. When arm in arm they both came swiftly running like a pair of turtle doves that could not live a Sunday or night. When cards, invitations, and three-cornered notes lie about like white butterflies. When she died her breath whistled like the wind in a keyhole. When the fever pierced me like a knife. Where a lamp of deathless beauty shines like a beacon.  Where the intricate wheels of trade are grinding on like a mill. Where the source of the waters is fine as a thread. Whilst the lagging hours of the day went by like windless clouds or a tender sky. Whistled sharply in the air like a handful of vipers. White as a ghost from darkness. White as chalk. White as dove or lily or spirit of the light. White as the driven snow. White as the moon's white flame. White as the seabird's wing. White clouds like daisies. White hands she moves like swimming swans. White hands through her hair like white doves going into the shadow of a wood. White like flame. White sails of sloops like specters. Whose bodies are as strong as alabaster. Whose hair was as gold rayment on a king. Whose laugh moves like a bat through silent haunted woods.  Whose music like a robe of living light reclothed each newborn age. Windy speech which hits all around the mark like a drunken carpenter. Winged like an arrow to its mark. With a sting like a scorpion. With all the complacency of a homeless cat. With an angry broken roar like billows on an unseen shore their fury burst. With hate darkling as the swift winter hail. With music sweet as love. With sounds like breakers. With strength like steel. With the whisper of leaves in one's ear. With words like honey melting from the comb. Wits as sharp as gimlets. Women with tongues like polar needles. Words as fresh as spring verger. Words as soft as rain. Words like the gossamer film of the summer. Words sweet as honey from its lips distilled. Words were flashing like brilliant birds through the boughs or herd. Words worth thy music like a river rolls. Worthless like the conjurer's gold. Angle over details like a grasping pawnbroker. Wrinkled and scored like a dried apple. Riding with an intensity that burnt like a steady flame. Why? Yielding like melted snow. Yonder filmy crescent bent like an archer's bow above the snowy summit. You are as gloomy tonight as an undertaker out of employment. You are as hard as stone. You gave me such chill embraces as the snow-covered heights received from clouds. Your blood is red like wine. Your charms lay like metals in a mine. Your eyes are like fantastic moons that shiver in some stagnant lake. Your eyes as blue as violets. Your eyes they were green and gray like an April day. Your frail fancies are swallowed up like chance flowers flung upon the river's current. Your hair was golden as tints of sunrise. Your heart is as dry as a reed. Your locks are like the raven. Your love shall fall about me like sweet rain. Your steps like the rain to summer vexed farmer. Your thoughts are buzzing like a swarm of bees.  Your voice had a quaver in it just like the linnet. Youth like a summer morn. End of Section 121. This recording is in the public domain. Recording by Scott Colford of JustGiblets.com, Boston, Massachusetts. Section 122 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Granville Kleiser. Read for LibriVox.org by Christopher Paneer. June 22, 2007. Section 9 Conversational Phrases. A. A most extraordinary idea. A thousand hopes for your success. Accept my best wishes. All that is conjectured. Allow me to congratulate you. An unfortunate comparison, don't you think? And even if it were so. And how am I to thank you? And in the end, what are you going to make of it? And yet the explanation does not wholly satisfy me. Apparently, I was wrong. Are we wandering from the point? Are you a trifle, bored? Are you fully reconciled? Are you not complicating the question? Are you prepared to go to that length? Are you still obdurate? As it happens, your conjecture is right. Assuredly, I do. At first blush, it may seem frantic. B. Banish such thoughts. But are you not taking a slightly one-sided point of view? But consider for a moment. But I look at the practical side. But I wonder from my point. But now, I'll confide something to you. But perhaps I'm hardly fair when I say that. But seriously speaking, what is the use of it? But surely that is inconsistent. But that's a tremendous hazard. But the thing is simply impossible. But there's one thing you haven't said. But wait, you haven't heard the end. But what do you yourself think about it? But who could foresee what was going to happen? But you are open to persuasion. But you do not know for certain. But you must tell me more. By a curious chance, I know it very well. By no means desirable, I think. C. Can I persuade you? Can you imagine anything so horrible? Certain circumstances make it undesirable. Certainly not if it displeases you. Certainly with the greatest pleasure. C. Where's your sense of humor? Consult me when you want me at any time. D. Decidedly so. Dine with me tomorrow night if you are free. Do I presume too much? Do I seem very ungenerous? Do not misunderstand me. Do not the circumstances justify it? Don't be so dismal, please. Don't delude yourself. Don't let me enroach on your good nature. Don't think I am unappreciative of your kindness. Do you attach any particular meaning to that? Do you know I envy you that? Do you know what his chief interests are now? Do you mind my making a suggestion? Do you press me to tell? Do you really regard him as a serious antagonist? Do you think there is anything ominous in it? Does it please you so tremendously? Does it seem incredible? E. Either way is perplexing. Eminently proper, I think. Everyone looks at it differently. Excuse my bluntness. F. Fancyful, I should say. For the simplest of reasons. Forgive me if I seem disobliging. Fortunate to say the least. Frankly, I don't see why it should. Frugal to a degree. Fullsome praise, I call it. G. Give me your sympathy and counsel. Glorious to contemplate. Good, that is at least something. Gratifying, I am sure. H. Happily there are exceptions to every rule. Has it really come to that? Have I encouraged your displeasure? Have you any rooted objection to it? Have you anything definite in your mind? Have you reflected what the consequences might be to yourself? He does me too much honor. He feels it acutely. He has a queer conception of the properties. He is a poor dissembler. He is anything but obtuse. He is so ludicrously wrong. He is the most guileless of men. He was so extremely susceptible. He writes uncommonly clever letters. Heaven forbid that I should wound your sensibility. His sense of humor is unquenchable. How amiable you are to say so. How can I tell you how much I have enjoyed it all? How can I thank you? How can you be so unjust? How delightful to meet you. How does the idea appeal to you? How jolly you are. How extraordinary. How intensely interesting. How perfectly delightful. How utterly abominable. How very agreeable this is. How very interesting. How very surprising. How well you do it. However, I should like to hear your views. Human nature interests me very much indeed. End of section 122. This recording is in the public domain. I agree, at least, I suppose I do. I agree that something ought to be done. I always welcome criticism, so long as it is sincere. I am absolutely bewildered. I am afraid I am not familiar enough with the subject. I am afraid I cannot suggest an alternative. I am afraid I have allowed you to tire yourself. I am afraid I must confess my ignorance. I am afraid you will call me a sentimentalist. I am always glad to do anything to please you. I am anxious to discharge the very onerous debt I owe you. I am appealing to your sense of humor. I am at your service. I am bound to secrecy. I am compelled to, unluckily. I am curious to learn what his motive was. I am deeply flattered and grateful. I am delighted to hear you say so.  I am entirely at your disposal. I am extremely glad you approve of it. I am far from believing the maxim. I am fortunate in being able to do you a service. I am glad to be able to think that. I am glad to have had this talk with you. I am glad to say that I have entirely lost that faculty. I am glad you can see it in that way. I am glad you feel so deeply about it. I am giving you well-deserved praise. I am going to make a confession. I am grateful for your good opinion. I am honestly indignant. I am, I confess, a little discouraged. I am in a chastened mood. I am inclined to agree with you. I am incredulous. I am indebted to you for the suggestion. I am listening. I was about to propose. I am lost in admiration. I am luckily disengaged today. I am more grieved than I can tell you. I am naturally overjoyed. I am not a person of prejudices. I am not an alarmist. I am not an unreasonable as you suppose. I am not at all in the secret of his ambitions. I am not capable of unraveling it. I am not going into sorted details. I am not going to let you evade the question. I am not going to pay you any idle compliments. I am not impervious to the obligations involved. I am not in sympathy with it. I am not in the least surprised. I am not inquisitive. I am not prepared to say so. I am not sure that I can manage it. I am not vindictive. I am overjoyed to hear you say so. I am perfectly aware of what I am saying. I am persuaded by your candor. I am quite convinced of that. I am quite discomfited. I am quite interested to see what you will do. I am quite ready to be convinced. I am rather of the opinion that I was mistaken. I am ready to make great allowances. I am really afraid I don't know. I am really gregarious. I am sensible of the flattery. I am seriously annoyed with myself about it. I am so glad you think that. I am so sorry, so very sorry. I am sorry to disillusion you. I am sorry to interrupt this interesting discussion. I am sorry to say it is impossible. I am speaking plainly. I am still a little of an idealist. I am suppressing many of the details. I am sure it sounds very strange to you. I am sure you could pay me no higher compliment. I am sure you will hear me out. I am surprised, I confess. I am sustained by the prospect of a good dinner. I am vastly obliged to you. I am vastly your debtor for the information. I am very far from being a fanatic. I am very glad of this opportunity. I am very grateful, very much flattered. I am wholly in agreement with you. I am willing to accept all the consequences. I am wonderfully well. I am wondering if I may dare ask you a very personal question. I am your creator unawares. I anticipate your argument. I appreciate your motives. I assure you it is most painful to me. I assure you my knowledge of it is limited. I bear no malice about that. I beg your indulgence. I beg your pardon, but you take it too seriously. I brazenly confess it. I can easily understand your astonishment. I can explain the apparent contradiction. I can find no satisfaction in it. I can hardly agree with you there. I can never be sufficiently grateful. I can only tell you the bare facts. I can scarcely accept the offer. I can scarcely boast that honor. I can scarcely imagine anything more disagreeable. I can sympathize with you. I cannot altogether equate myself of interested motives. I cannot explain it even to myself. I cannot find much real satisfaction in it. I cannot forbear to press my advantage. I cannot imagine what you mean. I cannot precisely determine. I can't pretend to make a jest of what I am going to say. I cannot say definitely at the moment. I cannot say that in fact it is always so. I cannot see how you draw that conclusion. I cannot thank you enough for all your consideration. I compliment you on your good sense. I confess I find it difficult. I could ask for nothing better. I could never forgive myself for that. I dare say your intuition is quite right. I decline to commit myself beforehand. I detest exaggeration. I didn't mean that exactly. I do not comprehend your intuition. I do not comprehend your intuition. I didn't mean that exactly. I do not comprehend your meaning. I don't deny that it is interesting. I don't doubt it for a moment. I do not doubt the sincerity of your arguments. I do not exactly understand you. I do not feel sure that I entirely share your views. I don't feel that it is my business. I do not find it an unpleasant subject. I don't insist on your believing me. I don't justify my presumption. I don't know quite why you should say that. I don't know that I can do that. I don't know when I have heard anything so lamentable. I don't know why you should be displeased. I don't make myself clear, I see. I don't pretend to explain. I don't see anything particularly wonderful in it. I don't underrate his kindness. I don't want to disguise that from you. I don't want to exaggerate. I don't want to seem critical. I doubt the truth of that same. I endorse it every word. I entirely approve of your plan. I fancy it's just that. I fear I cannot help you. I fear that's too technical for me. I feel a certain apprehension. I feel an unwanted sense of gaiety. I feel it my duty to be frank with you. I feel myself scarcely competent to judge. I feel very grateful to you for your kind offer. I find it absorbing. I find it rather monotonous. I find this agreeable mental exhilaration. I frankly confess that. I generally trust my first impressions. I give my word gladly. I give you my most sacred word of honor. I had better begin at the beginning. I had no intention of being offensive. I hadn't thought of it in that light. I hardly think that could be so. I have a hundred reasons for thinking so. I have a peculiar affection for it. I have an immense faith in him. I have been constrained by circumstances. I have been decidedly impressed. I have been longing to see more of you. I have been puzzling over a dilemma. I have every reason to think so. I have given you the best proof of it. I have gone back to my first impressions. I have known striking instances of the kind. I have never heard it put so well. I have no delusions on that score. I have not succeeded in convincing myself of that. I have not the influence you think. I have not the least doubt of it. I haven't the remotest idea. I have often a difficulty in deciding. I have often marveled at your courage. I have quite changed my opinion about that. I have something of great importance to say to you. I have sometimes vaguely felt it. I have the strongest possible prejudice against it. I heartily congratulate you. I hope it will not seem unreasonable to you. I hope we may meet again. I hope you will forgive an intruder. I hope you will not think me irreverent. I hope you will pardon my seeming carelessness. I indulge the modest hope. I know it is very presumptuous. I know my request will appear singular. I like it immensely. I like your frankness. I make no reflection whatever. I mean it literally. I might question all that. I mistrust these wild impulses. I most certainly agree with you. I most humbly ask pardon. I must add my congratulations on your taste. I must apologize for intruding upon you. I must ask you one more question if I may. I must confess I have never thought of that. I must refrain from any comment. I must respectfully decline to tell you. I must take this opportunity to tell you. I need not remind you that you have a grave responsibility. I have never heard anything so absurd. I offer my humblest apologies. I owe the idea wholly to you. I partly agree with you. I personally owe you a great debt of thankfulness. I place myself entirely at your service. I place the most implicit reliance on your good sense. I prefer to reserve my judgment. I purposely evaded the question. I quite appreciate the very clever way you put it. I quite see what the advantages are. I really am curious to know how you guessed that. I realize how painful it must be to you. I recollect it clearly. I rely on your good sense. I remember the occasion perfectly. I resent that kind of thing. I respect you for that. I respect your critical faculty. I say it in all modesty. I see disapproval in your face. I see it from a different angle. I see you are an enthusiast. I see your point of view. I seem to have heard that sentiment before. End of section 124. This recording is in the public domain. Section 125 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville Kleiser. Read for LibriVox.org by Leanne Howlett. I shall at once proceed to forget it. I shall await your pleasure. I shall be glad if you will join me. I shall be interested to watch it develop. I shall be most proud and pleased. I shall certainly take you at your word. I shall feel highly honored. I shall make a point of thinking so. I shall never forget your kindness. I shall respect your confidence. I should appreciate your confidence greatly. I should be very ungrateful where I not satisfied with it. I should feel unhappy if I did otherwise. I should like your opinion of it. I should not dream of asking you to do so. I should think it very unlikely. I simply cannot endure it. I spoke only in jest. I stand corrected. I suppose I ought to feel flattered. I surmised as much. I sympathize deeply with you. I take that for granted. I think extremely well of it. I think he has very noble ideals. I think I can answer that for you. I think I know what you are going to say. I think it has its charm. I think it is superb. I think it quite admirable. I think its tone is remarkably temperate. I think that is rather a brilliant idea. I think what you say is reasonable. I think you are quibbling. I think you are rather severe in your opinions. I think you have great appreciation of values. I think you have summed it up perfectly. I think your candor is charming. I thoroughly agree with you. I thought it most amusing. I thought you were seriously indisposed. I trust you will not consider it an impertence. I understand exactly how you feel about it. I understand your delicacy of feeling. I venture to propose another plan. I very rarely allow myself that pleasure. I want to have a frank understanding with you. I was at a loss to understand the reason for it. I was hoping that I could persuade you. I was on the point of asking you. I was speaking generally. I watched you with admiration. I will answer you frankly. I will listen to no protestations. I will take it only under compulsion. I will tell you what puzzles me. I will think of it since you wish it. I will with great pleasure. I wish I could explain my point more fully. I wish I knew what you meant by that. I wish to be perfectly fair. I wish to put things as plainly as possible. I wonder how much truth there is in it. I wonder if you have the smallest recollection of me. I would agree if I understood. I wouldn't put it just that way. If ever I can repay it, command me. If I mistake not, you were there once. If I speak strongly, it is because I feel strongly. If I were disposed to offer counsel. If I were sure you would not misunderstand my meaning. If you don't mind my saying so. If you insist upon it. If you will pardon me the frankness. In a manner that sometimes terrifies me. In one respect, you are quite right. In that case, let me rob you of a few minutes. In what case, for example. Incredible as it sounds, I had for a moment forgotten. Indeed, but it is quite possible. Indeed, how? Indeed, you are wholly wrong. Indifferently so, I am afraid. Irony was ten thousand leaks from my intention. Is it sane? Is it reasonable? Isn't it amazing? Isn't it extraordinarily funny? Isn't it preposterous? Isn't that a trifle unreasonable? Isn't that rather a hasty conclusion? Is that a fair question? It always seemed to me impossible. It amuses you, doesn't it? It blunts the sensibilities. It could never conceivably be anything but popular. It depends on how you look at it. It depends upon circumstances. It doesn't sound plausible to me. It has a lovely situation as I remember it. It has amused me hugely. It has been a relief to talk to you. It has been an immense privilege to see you. It has never occurred to me. End of section 125. This recording is in the public domain. According by Leanne Howlett. Section 126 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville Kleiser Read for Libervox.org It is a curious fact. It is a great pleasure to meet you. It is a huge undertaking. It is a most unfortunate affair. It is a perfectly plain proposition. It is a rather melancholy thought. It is a truth universally acknowledged. It is all very inexcusable. It is all very well for you to be philosophical. It is altogether probable. It is an admirable way of putting it. It is an error of taste. It is an extreme case, but the principle is sound. It is an ingenious theory. It is an uncommonly fine description. It is extremely interesting, I can assure you. It is for you to decide. It is historically true. It is I who should ask forgiveness. It is incredible. It is indeed generous of you to suggest it. It is inexplicable. It is interesting as a theory. It is literally impossible. It is merely a mood. It is most unfortunate. It is my deliberately formed opinion. It is my opinion you are too conscientious. It is nevertheless true. It is not a matter of the slightest consequence. It is not always fair to judge by appearances. It is not so unreasonable as you think. It is often very misleading. It is one of the grave problems of the day. It is only a fancy of mine. It is perfectly defensible. It is perfectly trite. It is permissible to gratify such an impulse. It is possible, but I rather doubt it. It is quite an easy matter. It is quite conceivable. It is quite too absurd. It is rather startling. It is really impressive. It is really most callous of you to laugh. It is sheer madness.  It is simply a coincidence. It is the most incomprehensible thing in the world. It is to you that I am indebted for all this. It is true I am grieved to say. It is true nonetheless. It is very amusing. It is very far from being a fiction. It is very good of you to do this for my pleasure. It is very ingenious. It is very splendid of you. It is wanton capriciousness. It is your privilege to think so. It is a difficult and delicate matter to discuss. It is a matter of immediate urgency. It is absolute folly. It is absurd. It is impossible. It is all nonsense. It is as logical as it can be under the circumstances. It has been a strange experience for you. It is deliciously honest. It is going to be rather troublesome. It is inconceivable that it should ever be necessary. It is mere pride of opinion. It is my chief form of recreation. It is not a matter of vast importance. It is past my comprehension. It is quite wonderful how logical and simple you make it. It is really very perplexing. It is so charming of you to say that. It is so kind of you to come. It is such a bore having to talk about it. It is the natural sequence. It is too melancholy. It is very wonderful. It makes it all quite interesting. It may sound strange to you. It must be a trifle dole at times. It must be fascinating. It must be very gratifying to you. It must have been rather embarrassing. It seems an age since we've last seen you. It seems entirely wonderful to me. It seems incredible. It seems like a distracting dream. It seems preposterous. It seems the height of absurdity. It seems to me that you have a perfect right to do so. It seems unspeakably funny to me. It seems very ridiculous. It shall be as you wish. It should not be objectionable. It sounds plausible. It sounds profoundly interesting. It sounds rather appalling. It sounds very alluring. It strikes me as rather pathetic. It was an unpardonable liberty. It was inevitable that you should say that.  It was not unkindly meant. It was peculiarly unfortunate. It was really an extraordinary experience. It was so incredible. It was the most amazing thing I ever heard. It was very good of you to come out and join us. It will create a considerable sensation. It will divert your thoughts from a mournful subject. It will give me pleasure to do it. It will not alter my determination. It would be ill-advised. It would interest me very much. It would seem to be a wise decision. It would take too long to formulate my thoughts. End of section 126 This recording is in the public domain. Section 127 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville Kleiser Read for LibriVox.org by Ken Crooker on the web at kencrooker.com Join us, please, when you have time. Just trust to the inspiration of the moment. Justify it if you can. Let me persuade you. Let me say how deeply indebted I feel for your kindness. Let me speak frankly. Let us grant for the sake of the argument. Let us take a concrete instance. Many thanks. How kind and good you are. May I ask to whom you allude? May I be privileged to hear it? May I speak freely? May I venture to ask what inference you would draw from that? Might I suggest an alternative? Most dangerous. My attitude would be one of disapproval. My confidence in you is absolute. My idea of it is quite the reverse. My information is rather scanty. My meaning is quite the contrary. My point of view is different, but I shall not insist upon it. My views are altered in many respects. No, I am speaking seriously. No, I don't understand it. Not at all. Not to my knowledge. Nothing could be more delightful. Now is it very plain to you? Now you are flippant. Obviously the matter is settled. Of course, but that again isn't the point. Of course I am delighted. Of course I don't want to press you against your will. Of course you will do what you think best. Oh, certainly, if you wish it. Oh, do not form an erroneous impression. Oh, I appreciate that in you. Oh, that's mere quibbling. Oh, that's splendid of you. Oh, that was a manner of speaking. Oh yes, I quite admit that. Oh yes, you may take that for granted. Oh, you are very bitter. Oh, you may be as scornful as you like. On the contrary, I agree with you thoroughly. On the face of it, it sounds reasonable. One assumption you make, I should like to contest. One has no choice to endure it. One must be indulgent under the circumstances. One thing I beg of you. Pardon me, but I don't think so. Pardon me, I meant something different. Perhaps I am indiscreet. Perhaps not in the strictest sense. Perhaps you do not feel at liberty to do so. Perhaps you think me ungrateful. Personally, I confess to an objection. Please continue to be frank. Please do not think I am asking out of mere curiosity. Please forgive my thoughtlessness. Please make yourself at home. Pray don't apologize. Pray forgive me for intruding on you so unceremoniously. Pray go on. Precisely, that is just what I meant. Put in that way, it certainly sounds very well. Question me if you wish. Quibbling, I call it. Quite so. Quite the wisest thing you can do. Rather loquacious, I think. Reading between the lines. Really, I should have thought otherwise. Really, you must go? Reassure me if you can. Reflect upon the possible consequences. Relatively speaking, reluctantly I admit it. Reverting to another matter. Shall we have a compact? She has an extraordinary gift of conversation. She is easily prejudiced. She seems uncommonly appreciative. She will be immensely surprised. Show me that the two cases are analogous. So far, so good. So I inferred. So much the better for me, so you observe the transformation? Something amuses you. Sometimes, the absurdity of it occurs to me. Speaking with all due respect. Still, you might make an exception. Strangely, it's true. Such conduct seems to me unjustifiable. Surely, there can be no question about that. Surely, we can speak frankly. Surely, you sound too harsh a note. Surely, you would not countenance that. End of section 127. This recording is in the public domain. Recorded in May of 2007 in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Section 128 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville Kleiser. Read for LibriVox.org by Ken Crooker. On the web at kencrooker.com. Tell me in what way you want me to help you. Thank you for telling me that. Thank you for your good intentions. That, at least, you will agree to. That depends on one's point of view. That doesn't sound very logical. That is a counsel of perfection. That is a fair question, perhaps. That is a question I have often proposed to myself. That is a stroke of good fortune. That is a superb piece of work. That is a very practical explanation. That is admirably clear. That is certainly ideal. That is eminently proper. That is hardly consistent. That is inconceivable. That is just like you, if you will forgive me for saying so. That is most fortunate. That is most kind of you. That is most unexpected and distressing. That is not fair to me. That is not to be lightly spoken of. That is precisely what I mean. That is quite true, theoretically. That is rather a difficult question to answer. That is rather a strange request to make. That is rather awkward. That is really good of you. That is the prevailing idea. That is tragic. That is true, and I think you are right. That is very amiable in you. That is very curious. That is very felicitous. That is very gracious. That is what I call intelligent criticism. That is what I meant to tell you. That is a humiliating thought. That is a most interesting idea. That is such a hideous idea. That is the most incredible part of it. That might involve you in lifelong self-reproach. That must be exceedingly tiresome.  That reassures me. That shows the infirmity of his judgment. That theory isn't tenable. That was exceedingly generous. That was intended ironically. That was very thoughtful of you. That was very well-reasoned. That will blast your chances, I am afraid. That will suit me excellently. That would be somewhat serious. That would be very discreditable. The agreement seems to be ideal. The idea is monstrous. The inference is obvious. The notion is rather new to me. The pleasure is certainly not all on your side. The reason is not so far to seek. The same problem has perplexed me. The sentiment is worthy of you. The simplest thing in the world. The situation is uncommonly delicate. The story seems to me incredible. The subject is extremely interesting. The tone of it was certainly hostile. The very obvious moral is this. The whole thing is an idle fancy. Then I have your permission. Then you are really not disinclined. Then you merely want to ask my advice. There are endless difficulties. There are reasons which make such a course impossible. There is a good deal of sense in that. There is a grain of truth in that, I admit. There is food for reflection in that. There is my hand on it. There is no resisting you. There is nothing I should like so much. There is one inevitable condition. There is something almost terrifying about it. There must be extenuating circumstances. They amuse me immensely. This is a most unexpected pleasure. This is charmingly new to me. This is indeed good fortune. This is really appalling. This is really not a laughing matter. Those are my own private feelings. Those things are not forgotten at once. To me, it's simply outrageous. To speak frankly, I do not like it. True, I forgot. End of section 128. This recording is in the public domain. Recorded in May of 2007 in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Section 129 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville Kleiser. Read for LibriVox.org by Elizabeth Palmer, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. You, undeniably true. Unfortunately, I must decline the proposal. Unlikely to be so. Unquestionably superior. Unwholesome influence, I would say. Thee. Very good, I'll do so. Very well, I will consent. Vivacity is her greatest charm. Virtually accomplished, I believe. Boach for its truth. We are all more or less susceptible. We are drifting away from our point. We are impervious to certain rules. We are merely wasting energy in this duel. We can safely take it for granted. We couldn't have a better topic. We had better agree to differ. We have had some conclusions in common. We must judge it leniently. We must not expose ourselves to misinterpretation. We owe you a debt of gratitude. We shall be glad to see you if you care to come. We will devotely hope not. Well, as a matter of fact, I have forgotten. Well done, I congratulate you. Well, I'm not going to argue that. Well, I call it scandalous. Well, I confess they don't appeal to me. Well, more's the pity. Well, perhaps it's none of my affair. Well, that is certainly ideal. Well, this is good fortune. Well, yes, in a way.  What a beautiful idea. What a charming place you have here. What a curious coincidence. What a pretty compliment. What a tempting prospect. What an extraordinary idea. What are your misgivings? What can you possibly mean? What conceivable reason is there for it? What do you imagine my course should be? What do you propose? What is the next step in your argument? What is there so strange about that? What, may I ask, is your immediate object? What unseemly levity on his part? What very kind things you have to say to me. What would you expect me to do? What you have just said is even truer than you realize. What you propose is utterly impossible. Who is your sagacious advisor? Why ask such embarrassing questions? Why did you desert us so entirely? Why do you take it so seriously? Will you allow me to ask you a question? Will you be more explicit? Will you have the kindness to explain? Will you pardon my curiosity? Will you permit me a brief explanation? Would you apply that to everyone? Would you mind telling me your opinion? End of Section 129 This recording is in the public domain. Section 130 of 15,000 Useful Phrases by Grenville-Kleiser Read for LibreBox.org by Elizabeth Palmer Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Why? Yes and no. Yes, but that is just what I fail to comprehend. Yes, I dare say. Yes, if you will be so good. Yes, it was extraordinarily fine. Yes, that is my earnest wish. Yes, that's undeniable. Yes, you were saying. You agree with me, I know.   You are delightfully frank. You are greatly to be envied. You are heartily welcome. You are incomprehensible. You are incorrigible. You are kind and comforting. You are most kind. You are not consistent. You are not serious, I hope. You are not seriously displeased with me. You are quite delightful. You are rather puzzling today. You are right to remind me of that.  You are very complimentary. You are very gracious. You are so tremendously kind about it. You are succeeding admirably. You are taking it all much too seriously. You are talking nonsense. You are very good, I am sure. You asked me, but I shouldn't wonder if you knew better than I do. You astonish me greatly. You behaved with great forbearance. You can hardly be serious. You cannot regret it more than I do. You cannot pay me a higher compliment. You did it excellently. You did not clearly understand what I meant. You don't seem very enthusiastic. You excite my curiosity. You flatter my judgment. You have a genius for saying the right thing. You have asked me a riddle. You have asked the impossible. You have been wrongly informed. You have done me a great service. You have had a pleasant time, I hope. You have my deepest sympathy. You have my unbounded confidence. You have received a false impression. You have such an interesting way of putting things. You interest me deeply. You judge yourself too severely. You know I'm in an agony of curiosity. You know I'm not given to sentimentality. You know the familiar axiom. You leave no alternative. You look incredulous. You may be sure of my confidence. You may rely on me absolutely. You might make an exception. You must have misunderstood me. You must not fail to commend me. You overwhelm me with your kindness. You really insist upon it? You rebuke me very fairly. You say that as though you were surprised. You see how widely we differ. You see it's all very vague. You see things rose-colored. You seem to be in a happy mood. You have a very mild interest in what I propose. You shock me more than I can say. You speak in enigmas. You speak with authority. You surely understand my position. You take a great deal for granted. You take a pessimistic view of things. You take me quite by surprise. You will admit I have some provocation. You will become morbid if you're not careful. You will have ample opportunity. You will, of course, remember the incident. You will please not be flippant. You will understand my anxiety. Your argument is facile and superficial. Your consideration is entirely misplaced. Your judgments are very sound. Your logic is as clever as possible. Your opinion will be valuable to me. Your request is granted before it is made. Your statement is somewhat startling. End of section 130. This recording is in the public domain. A great many people have said. A little indulgence may be due to those. A majority of us believe. A man in my situation has. A more plausible objection is found. A proof of this is... A short time since. A specific answer can be given. A thought occurred to me. Able men have reasoned out. Above all things, let us not forget. Absolutely true it is. Abundant reason is there. Accordingly, by reason of this circumstance, add this instance to. After a careful study of all the evidence. After full deliberation. After reminding the hearer. After this, it remains only to say. Again, can we doubt? Again, I ask the gentleman. Can we doubt? Can we doubt? Again, I ask the gentleman. Again, in this view. Again, it is quite clear that. Again, it is urged. Again, let us compare. Again, very numerous are the cases. Again, we have abundant instances. Again, we have abundant instances. Against all this concurring testimony. All confess this to be true. All I ask is. All of us know. All that I will say now. All the facts which support this. All the signs of the time indicate. All these things you know. All this being considered. All this is historical fact. All this is historical fact. All this is very well. All this suggests. All this we take for granted. Allow me for a moment to turn to. Allow me to tell a story. Although I say it to myself. Amazing as it may seem. Am I mistaken? Among many examples. Among the distinguished guests who honour. Among the problems that confront us. An answer to this is now ready. An argument has often been put forward. An example or two will illustrate. An indescribably touching incident. An incident that is often put forward. An incident that is often put forward. An indescribably touching incident. An opinion has now become established. And again it is said. And again it is to be presumed. And coming nearer to our own day. And did a man try to persuade me? And did a man try to persuade me? And do you really think? And everybody here knows. And for myself as I said. And further all that I have said. And hence the well known doctrine. And here again when I speak.  And here I am led to observe. And here I come to the closing evidence. And here I have an opportunity. And here I come to the closing evidence. And here I have an opportunity. And here I reproach. And here I wish you to observe. And here let me define my position. And here let me give my explanation. And here let us recall to mind. And how is it possible to imagine? And I am bound to say. And I beg of you.  And I might say this. And I refuse a cent. And I rejoice to know. And I say it were better for you. And I should in like manner repudiate. And I speak with a reference. And I submit to you. And I refuse a cent. And I submit to you. And I trust that you will consider. And I will make a practical suggestion. And I will tell you why. And I would moreover submit. And if a man could anywhere be found. And if any of you should question. And if I know anything of my countrymen. And if I may presume to speak. And if I take another instance. And if this be true. And if you come to a decision. And if you think it your duty. And in conclusion. And in like manner. And in order to see this. And in thus speaking I am not denying. And is this not lamentable. And is there not a presumption. And it happens. And it is certainly true. And it is doubtful if. And it is not difficult to see. And it is not plain. And it is one of the evidences. And it is precisely in this. And it is strikingly suggested to us. And it is undeniable I say. And it is well that this should be so. And last of all. And lest anyone should marvel. And let it be observed. And lo and behold. And more than this. And next.


In mid-July, major telescopes on Earth and in space will be trained on planet Jupiter for an encounter that could be one of the most significant astronomical events in history. A string of over 20 ice and dust fragments from an ancient comet will plummet into Jupiter, causing massive explosions. Geologist Eugene Shoemaker, astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker and amateur astronomer David Levy found the comet in March 1993 during a survey of the sky at Mount Palomar Observatory. No one is quite sure what effect the comet's impact will have on the planet, an immense globe of gas a thousand times larger than the Earth. Well, the $64 question is how big are the fragments? At one point some months ago, we thought the largest might be about three, maybe even four kilometers across. If they were that large, then altogether these comets would deliver about 100 million megatons of energy. Computer simulations of the impact's effect on Jupiter have been made by astronomers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During the six days of bombardment, major observatories of the world hope to study the event. The impact sites will occur on the opposite side of Jupiter, away from Earth's view. The Galileo spacecraft now en route to Jupiter will view the event head on, eventually sending back images. Whether the event goes off with a bang or a whimper, few astronomers will miss this cosmic event of a lifetime. In mid-July, major telescopes on Earth and in space will be trained on planet Jupiter for an encounter that could be one of the most significant astronomical events in history. A string of over 20 ice and dust fragments from an ancient comet will plummet into Jupiter, causing massive explosions. It's the first time ever that we've seen a comet captured in orbit around Jupiter, and it's the first time ever we'll actually be able to predict an impact. Geologist Eugene Shoemaker, astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker, an amateur astronomer David Levy, found the comet at the end of March 1993. Oh gee, it's a lovely day. From their perch atop Mount Palomar in Southern California, they monitor the night sky using a 60-year-old 18-inch telescope. The vintage instrument has perfect properties for spotting fast-moving objects. With it, the Shoemakers have discovered dozens of comets. It is actually a camera. Exposures of eight minutes are used for each picture. The field of view takes in the wider than normal portion of the sky, making it an ideal workhorse for spotting new objects. Okay, does that look right? Yes, and minus 13, 18. The evening of the discovery, high clouds threatened to cancel their efforts. Prospects didn't look good, but David Levy suggested that they continue using damaged film that would have been thrown away. That decision paid off. We knew he had something very unusual. It was so unusual we were a little unsure just what we were dealing with. So I started to scan it and Jupiter was a big overexposed looking blob on one side. And I started at the top and across and down. And then as I moved across about a little more than halfway down, I suddenly thought I saw something. Caroline used a stereo microscope to look at two pictures taken 40 minutes apart of the exact same location. As she viewed the images simultaneously, everything looked flat except fast-moving objects like asteroids or comets. They appeared to float. I turned to the others and I said, I don't know what I've got. It looks like a squashed comet. The squashed comet turned out to be a chain of fragments. They were formed when Jupiter's immense gravitational force pulled the comet apart as it passed by the giant planet. NASA's newly repaired Hubble Space Telescope took these images of the comet, its powerful mirrors bringing each fragment into sharp focus. Well, the $64 question is how big are the fragments? At one point some months ago, we thought the largest fragments might be about three, maybe even four kilometers across, about two and a half, up to two and a half miles in diameter. If they were that large, then altogether these comets would deliver about a hundred million megatons of energy. But no one is quite sure what effect the impacts will have on the planet. An immense globe of gas a thousand times larger than the Earth. Timothy Dowling and Joe Herrington of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a computer marvel that shows the effect of the comet's impact on Jupiter's atmosphere.  During the six days of bombardment, major observatories of the world hope to study the event. The impact sites will occur on the opposite side of Jupiter, away from Earth's view. Scientists hope to see after effects of the impacts or flashes of light reflected onto Jupiter's nearby moons. The Galileo spacecraft now en route to Jupiter will view the event head on, eventually sending back images. It will be an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the planet's weather patterns. Joe Herrington believes the explosions could trigger storm systems in normally stable areas. If the pieces are big enough to produce any kind of observable effect at all, anything that makes the planet look different from the way it looks today will learn something. And the more changes, the more we'll learn. In fact, there are valuable lessons in store for our own planet. There are a lot of people that believe that an impact about the size of the combined comet train is what killed off the dinosaurs. Gene Shoemaker has long supported the theory that comet material landed some 4.5 billion years ago and delivered life's essential ingredients to Earth. In essence, I think we're the progeny of comets. Comets arriving early in the history of the solar system delivered the volatile material. Come July 16th, amateur and professional astronomers alike will train their telescopes on Jupiter. Whether the event goes off with a bang or a whimper, few astronomers will miss this cosmic event of a lifetime. We knew we had something very unusual. It was so unusual we were a little unsure just what we were dealing with. We were pretty... Backed up and when I looked at it I realized that what I saw was a bar and this bar had coma and tails. And that was unspeakably weird. You just don't find something like that when you're looking for either asteroids or comets and nothing else. Yeah, the comet pieces will plunge down underneath the clouds, these beautiful ammonia clouds that are on the surface, plunge down underneath and finally just give up and explode and all of that hot heated gas will rise up and then it'll fall back down and you'll get, just like throwing a rock into a pond, you'll get this big splash and then the slower ripple.


Thank you very much, everyone, for coming today.  By way of introduction, I'm going to do a sort of general overview of some of the FSAs who are represented in the blue paper. So I did a sort of very initial analysis, very initial, of blue papers between 1920 and 1945. So I'm going to be concentrating on that period. And as a sort of introduction to me, my interest is really in the social history of archaeology. So I'm going to talk about some women, but I'm going to focus on less well-known FSAs because we've got some other papers covering other people who might be more well-known, and less well-known people have something interesting to say. Well, I'm going to say something interesting, hopefully, about the less well-known people today. So we heard from Jill about the sort of prehistory, if you like, of women in the society, but I thought I would just bring out some newspaper coverage of women before 1921, the first FSAs who were women were elected. And so we have a mention at the top, left, right, left, whatever, over there, of Miss Margaret Stokes contributing a paper. So this is a note in the Academy from 1881, and like Jill said, please do have a look at her amazing illustrations on the table. But I also wanted to pull out some other examples. So we have Miss Oakover and Miss Talbot exhibiting at the same meeting or having things exhibited on their behalf at the same meeting in 1889, and also Miss Cochran in 1908. And these are all also reflected in the proceedings of the society. So you get longer sort of write-ups of their exhibitions in the proceedings. But I thought it was important just to flag up that these proceedings are also sort of being republished in periodicals that are going out to a wider audience by way of sort of introducing their names into this sort of more popular purview. I should also just say that when I was doing my preliminary sort of research for this, I found that Margaret Stokes had a lecture series named after her in Dublin, which I thought was quite interesting, and that was published in the proceedings as well, just the fact that there was a lecture series, not an introduction to it. But I thought that was important to highlight here. I also wanted to highlight the fact that we have different kinds of exhibitions. So a Greek amphora fished up off a boat, off the Greek coast, and also a more historical rather than an archaeological exhibition, so the 15th century major. So I did, like I say, a very preliminary draft analysis of women who were being proposed. This is not women who were being elected just proposed from the blue paper records. And you can see that the numbers are not high, although there was a big uptick in 1944 probably because women are doing more stuff during the war. I don't know exactly, but I thought I would put over that the names of some more famous women and when they were being proposed according to the blue paper, so you can see some notable FSAs there. But like I say, I'm not really going to talk about these people because I'm interested in the other women who are being proposed and elected as FSAs, but I thought it would be interesting to contextualize this. So the first paper that appears in the minute books is for Eugenie Strong, who was the Assistant Director of the British School at Rome. So her honoris causa proposal is the 28th of April 1920. And I like, I sort of reproduced on the slide, they had to cross out the 18 because it was, you know, an old paper. But I've also put on this slide an example of something that Eugenie Strong was doing prior to her being elected. So she was writing articles summarizing excavations and archeological activity in Rome during World War I on behalf of the director who was away on war work. And I think this is a really interesting sort of example of women who were writing about archeology for a popular audience. And there are several examples of her letters to the times, summarizing archeological excavations and discoveries in Italy, one of which I'll come back to later on in the presentation, but it was the discovery in 1917 of an underground basilica in the Porta Maggiore, which comes back in later on in the presentation. So one of the other women that I wanted to highlight whose blue paper is on display over there is Marjorie Venable's Taylor. And one of the interesting things that comes out in this history is the fact that women were involved in very important administrative jobs and those are the jobs that are in part the reasons for which they are being put forward in the society. And it's really important to sort of realize that administration is a very important part of women's roles within archeology and it really brings them a sort of network that can help support their fellowship applications. And you can see that her distinguished services to the study of Rome and Britain and the fact that she's the secretary and editor of the Roman Society's journal is what's being flagged up here. And I also went through the blue papers that I had photographs of and started to see whose blue paper she was signing. So you can see a sort of list of the ones that I found in my quick troll. And three of the women at the bottom there, Kathleen Kenyon obviously we've heard about earlier in Jill's talk, Sylvia Benton I will come back to and I will also come back to Dorothy McKay but I think it was interesting to see that she's not only signing the blue papers of women she's also signing the blue papers of men. And the picture that I put up is significant because, not because it's a picture of me, but because the picture is of Marjorie Venable's chair which is in the Roman Society's office. So because I don't have a picture of her and if anyone has a picture of her I'd love to see what she looks like because one of the things that came out in a workshop that I put together last year is the fact that it's really hard sometimes to find pictures of women and we want to find pictures of women because we're curious about what they looked like but as an alternative I put a picture of her chair online but it's nice to know that her chair is still preserved in the office of the Roman Society to which she devoted so much time. So we've also got Eliza Jeffries Davis I picked her out because she's a historian and I wanted to highlight the role of historians in the society she also was unusual in that she had an academic position so she was a lecturer and a reader in fact at UCL of the history of London also she's doing quite important editorial work as the editor of the Quarterly Journal of the Historical Association and then because I was trying to think about how women were being represented in the newspaper I found this quite entertaining review of a lecture that she gave at the Churches of the City in 1924 four years before she's proposed as a fellow in which she says that city churches were spoiled by modern painted glass and she added that if anyone wanted to accomplish a good piece of work he could do no better than to go smashing the inferior windows of the city churches so I'm not sure that she would have been praised by buildings conservators for that view but anyway I thought it was an interesting reflection on her sort of ethos when it comes to conservation who else have we got so Sylvia Benton Sylvia Benton was an archaeologist who worked primarily in Greece and while I was thinking about this presentation it just so happened that we had a volunteer at the Euromuseum who was going through a box file which is on display in a little display case we have that is a recreation of Percy Eur's desk and Percy Eur was a professor of classics at Reading he became a professor of classics in 1911 and he married Annie Eur and the Euromuseum has a really interesting archive of letters from lots of different archaeologists who were working in Greece and it just so happened that this box file that the volunteer was going through had some letters from Sylvia Benton in it so instead of having a picture of her I thought I would put up a letter which has just recently been discovered in the files at the Euromuseum and it's about, she's writing to Percy Eur about an impending trip to Greece and submitting a photograph of some pottery that she has been researching I also wanted to flag up the importance of museums starting to look at their archives and Learner Society starting to look at their archives in terms of what this can tell us about women's work because I think it's really important to start to get a handle on what is still there floating around in museum files and Learner Society files and we can see a really lovely example of all the stuff that's been waiting for us to take it out on display here today so just a plea for people who are working in museums to start shouting out when you find these letters and other evidence of women in archaeology because it's really important, I mean, discoverability is really vital to the continuation of how we research these women so plug for archives there Felaça Henkin, Felaça Crusoe I wanted to flag up because she was quite young when she was proposed as a fellow of the society but she had done a lot of work she was working partly in the Museum of London as a costume curator and partly as a field archaeologist but you can see in her qualification that she has experienced an excavation at a verilingum, Colchester, and Breeden and she's doing that simultaneously of being a curator in the London Museum and I've pulled out just a quote here of the kind of work she was doing at Colchester which was a dig that was directed in part by Christopher Hawks who was an FSA and there were a lot of women involved in the Colchester dig, it's a very interesting dig and I'll come on to that in the next slide but one of the other things I wanted to point out was that she wrote this costume catalogue as part of her role as the curator in the London Museum and there was a whole series of articles that were published about the production of this costume catalogue in the National Women's Day in 1934 and you can see how it's being written in the girl's catalogue which is like a novel I wouldn't go that far myself but you can see the Lassa Crusoe here in the catalogue dressed in one of the costumes I'm not sure that's good curatorial practice to be perfectly honest but anyway she's dressed in one of the sort of mid-19th century costumes that's featured in the catalogue the catalogue also I should say is an amazing illustration by someone called Marion Thorne I think her name is but they're fantastic and I've been unable to find anything out about this illustrator but maybe in the Museum of London archive somewhere there is more the other thing I wanted to say about the Lassa Crusoe I'm not sure if we'll have time but if we do I'll put it up but she moved to the US and became a very noted garden expert and she started publishing lots and lots of books about gardens she also had a television series about gardens and so if you're interested in seeing the Lassa Crusoe hanging on television you can just put her name into YouTube and you'll see her being interviewed on Johnny Carson in the 1980s and I'll leave that for your enjoyment but it's very interesting and so I mentioned the Colchester Excavations and had a lot of women involved in it and if you look at the publication of the Colchester Excavations which was produced by the Society of Antiquities you can see a very long list of all the women who are involved in the excavation so in the red boxes I put people who became FSAs but there are also lots of other women there and men as well I should just say it wasn't just an excavation peopled by women but there were quite more women by quite a significant number than men but I just wanted to take this opportunity to think about how an excavation like Colchester can show us how the archaeological network kind of worked so we can pull it out and we can see that people from Colchester were working on other sites later on or while the excavations were happening and that also connects us to more FSAs, Dorothy Lodello, Peggy Piggit for example and then I mentioned the Fortan Maggiore Basilica which was published by Nora Dahl if you worked at Colchester and Eugenie Strong in 1924 I know very little about Allison Young but she interested me because she was being proposed in 1944 when you saw that big jump in the number of women who were being proposed in the society and actually she wasn't successful at this stage in 1944 when she was proposed, but she was proposed again in 1952 when she got elected and she was also participating her occupation as stated in the society's blue papers is given as the secretary of the voluntary aid attachment council so she was working the war effort when she was being proposed but obviously she had quite a significant archaeological sort of she had quite significant archaeological work done that's being quoted here so Maiden Castle, Poundbury she also excavated in Scotland and a lot of her publications are through the proceedings of the Society of Edgegrave in Scotland highlight the fact that she was widowed in 1918 so I'm presuming that most of her archaeological work was done after her widowhood, or after her two lots in the First World War and I wanted to end on Dorothy McKay Dorothy McKay is one of the women that I wrote about in my book partly because she was very active in publishing for on archaeological matters so one of the things that she wrote was a guide to the ancient cities of Iraq in 1926 this is when she and her husband Ernest McKay were working in Iraq at Kish and the guide is really interesting and it's I think going to be on display somewhere in the society today and it's really interesting because she basically follows the railway line so it's a guide that's meant to enable people who are in Iraq and this is Iraq at a time of British mandate to navigate their way through the country to find the archaeological sites that were in some cases still being excavated and it's a tourist publication and this interest in tourism continues and one of the other things that is here in the society is a very small pamphlet that she wrote in the 1930s called Mahanjo-Daro and Mahanjo-Daro is a famous Indus Valley site in what's now Pakistan and Dorothy and Ernest McKay were excavating there in the 1930s and this was a guide that was put together specifically for the Indian Railways Publications Office so when I was doing my research for the book on Dorothy McKay and her popular writings I wanted to make sure to include this very small pamphlet and actually the society's copy was given to the society by her so it's a very nice sort of personal pamphlet I'm not entirely sure how widely the pamphlet was circulated but it was part of a series of pamphlets that were produced for the Indian Railways Publications Office so it fitted into a wider series and I didn't know this at the time that I was doing the research for the book but later on in her life she became a wartime curator at the Ashmolean Museum as you can see in her blue paper citation and she also worked after the war and after the death of her husband Beirut in the archaeological museum where she was a curator there and she also wrote a guide which is in the society's collection of the museum in Beirut that I think is all I have yes so thank you very much for listening and I hope this has been applause