There seemed to be(It appeared or gave the impression that [ðɛr simd tɪ bi]) no use(no benefit or purpose [noʊ juz]) in waiting(the act of remaining in a place until a particular time or event [ɪn ˈweɪtɪŋ]) by the little door(near or next to a small entrance [baɪ ðə ˈlɪtəl dɔr]), so she went back(therefore, she returned [soʊ ʃi wɛnt bæk]) to the table(to the piece of furniture [tɪ ðə ˈteɪbəl]), half hoping(partially expecting or wishing [hæf ˈhoʊpɪŋ]) she might find(she could possibly discover [ʃi maɪt faɪnd]) another key(a different key [əˈnəðər ki]) on it(on the table [ɔn ɪt]), or at any rate(or at the very least; in any case [ər æt ˈɛni reɪt]) a book of rules(a set of guidelines or instructions [ə bʊk əv rulz]) for shutting people up(regarding confining or enclosing individuals [fər ˈʃətɪŋ ˈpipəl əp]) like telescopes(in a manner similar to how telescopes are collapsed [laɪk ˈtɛləˌskoʊps]): this time(on this occasion [ðɪs taɪm]) she found(she discovered [ʃi faʊnd]) a little bottle(a small container [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈbɑtəl]) on it(on the table [ɔn ɪt]), ('which certainly was not here before,' said Alice(a parenthetical statement indicating Alice's observation that the bottle was not present earlier [(wɪʧ ˈsərtənli wɑz nɑt hir ˌbiˈfɔr sɛd ˈælɪs)]),) and round the neck of the bottle(encircling the narrow part of the bottle near the opening [ənd raʊnd ðə nɛk əv ðə ˈbɑtəl]) was a paper label(there existed a small piece of paper attached to the bottle [wɑz ə ˈpeɪpər ˈleɪbəl]), with the words(displaying the text [wɪθ ðə wərdz]) 'DRINK ME(an instruction to consume the contents of the bottle [drɪŋk mi])' beautifully printed(attractively displayed in print [ˈbjutəfli ˈprɪnɪd]) on it(on the label [ɔn ɪt]) in large letters(in a big font size [ɪn lɑrʤ ˈlɛtərz]).
It was all very well(It might seem acceptable or reasonable [ɪt wɑz ɔl ˈvɛri wɛl]) to say 'Drink me,' but the wise little Alice(however, the intelligent young Alice [bət ðə waɪz ˈlɪtəl ˈælɪs]) was not going to do THAT(was not intending to perform that action [wɑz nɑt goʊɪŋ tɪ du ðət]) in a hurry(without careful consideration or quickly [ɪn ə ˈhəri]). 'No, I'll look first,' she said(She stated that she would examine the bottle before drinking [noʊ aɪl lʊk fərst ʃi sɛd]), 'and see whether it's marked "poison" or not(to determine if the bottle is labeled as containing a toxic substance [ənd si ˈwɛðər ɪts mɑrkt ˈpɔɪzən ər nɑt])'; for she had read(because she had previously encountered [fər ʃi hæd rɛd]) several nice little histories(a number of pleasant short stories [ˈsɛvərəl nis ˈlɪtəl ˈhɪstəriz]) about children(concerning young individuals [əˈbaʊt ˈʧɪldrən]) who had got burnt(who had suffered burns [hu hæd gɑt bərnt]), and eaten up(and been consumed [ənd ˈitən əp]) by wild beasts(by undomesticated animals [baɪ waɪld bists]) and other unpleasant things(and other undesirable occurrences [ənd ˈəðər ənˈplɛzənt θɪŋz]), all because(entirely due to the fact that [ɔl bɪˈkəz]) they WOULD not remember(they refused to recall [ðeɪ wʊd nɑt rɪˈmɛmbər]) the simple rules(the basic guidelines [ðə ˈsɪmpəl rulz]) their friends had taught them(that their acquaintances had instructed them [ðɛr frɛndz hæd tɔt ðɛm]): such as(for example [səʧ ɛz]), that a red-hot poker(that a metal rod heated to a high temperature [ðət ə red-hot ˈpoʊkər]) will burn you(will cause a burn injury [wɪl bərn ju]) if you hold it too long(if you grasp it for an extended period [ɪf ju hoʊld ɪt tu lɔŋ]); and that if you cut your finger(and that if you injure your finger [ənd ðət ɪf ju kət jʊr ˈfɪŋgər]) VERY deeply(to a significant extent [ˈvɛri ˈdipli]) with a knife(using a sharp-edged tool [wɪθ ə naɪf]), it usually bleeds(it typically results in blood loss [ɪt ˈjuʒəwəli blidz]); and she had never forgotten(and she had always remembered [ənd ʃi hæd ˈnɛvər fərˈgɑtən]) that, if you drink much(that, if you consume a large quantity [ðət ɪf ju drɪŋk məʧ]) from a bottle marked 'poison,' it is almost certain(it is highly likely [ɪt ɪz ˈɔlˌmoʊst ˈsərtən]) to disagree with you(to cause an adverse reaction in your body [tɪ dɪsəˈgri wɪθ ju]), sooner or later(at some point in the future [ˈsunər ər ˈleɪtər]).
However(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has been said previously [ˌhaʊˈɛvər]), this bottle(refers to a specific bottle that has been mentioned or is understood in the context [ðɪs ˈbɑtəl]) was NOT marked(indicates that the bottle did not have a label or sign indicating that its contents were poisonous [wɑz nɑt mɑrkt]) 'poison(the word 'poison' indicating a toxic or harmful substance [ˈpɔɪzən]),' so(therefore; as a result [soʊ]) Alice(the name of the character in the story [ˈælɪs]) ventured(dared to do something or go somewhere that may be dangerous or unpleasant [ˈvɛnʧərd]) to taste it(to try the flavor of the contents of the bottle [tɪ teɪst ɪt]), and finding it very nice(after tasting it, Alice discovered that she liked the flavor very much [ənd ˈfaɪndɪŋ ɪt ˈvɛri nis]), (it had(referring back to the bottle's contents [ɪt hæd]), in fact(used to emphasize the truth of a statement, often surprising [ɪn fækt]), a sort of mixed flavour(a combination of different tastes [ə sɔrt əv mɪkst flavour]) of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast(listing the various flavors that Alice perceived in the bottle's contents [əv cherry-tart ˈkəstərd pine-apple roʊst ˈtərki ˈtɑfi ənd hɑt ˈbətərd toʊst]),) she(referring to Alice [ʃi]) very soon(quickly; in a short amount of time [ˈvɛri sun]) finished it off(consumed the entire contents of the bottle [ˈfɪnɪʃt ɪt ɔf]).
* * * * * * *
* * * * * *
* * * * * * *
'What a curious feeling(An exclamation expressing surprise and interest in a strange sensation. [wət ə ˈkjʊriəs ˈfilɪŋ])!' said(The verb indicating who is speaking. [sɛd]) Alice(The name of the character speaking. [ˈælɪs]); 'I must be shutting up(Expressing the belief that she is shrinking or compressing. [aɪ məst bi ˈʃətɪŋ əp]) like a telescope(Comparing her shrinking to the collapsing action of a telescope. [laɪk ə ˈtɛləˌskoʊp]).'
And so it was indeed(Confirms that what Alice thought was happening was actually true. [ənd soʊ ɪt wɑz ˌɪnˈdid]): she(Referring to Alice. [ʃi]) was now only ten inches high(States Alice's current height. [wɑz naʊ ˈoʊnli tɛn ˈɪnʧɪz haɪ]), and her face brightened up(Her expression became happier or more hopeful. [ənd hər feɪs ˈbraɪtənd əp]) at the thought(Because she realized. [æt ðə θɔt]) that she was now the right size(She was now the appropriate height. [ðət ʃi wɑz naʊ ðə raɪt saɪz]) for going through the little door(To pass through the small entrance. [fər goʊɪŋ θru ðə ˈlɪtəl dɔr]) into that lovely garden(To enter the beautiful garden. [ˈɪntu ðət ˈləvli ˈgɑrdən]). First, however(Before doing anything else. [fərst ˌhaʊˈɛvər]), she waited(She paused. [ʃi ˈweɪtɪd]) for a few minutes(For a short period of time. [fər ə fju ˈmɪnəts]) to see if she was going to shrink any further(To observe if she would continue to get smaller. [tɪ si ɪf ʃi wɑz goʊɪŋ tɪ ʃrɪŋk ˈɛni ˈfərðər]): she felt a little nervous(She experienced slight anxiety. [ʃi fɛlt ə ˈlɪtəl ˈnərvəs]) about this(Regarding the possibility of shrinking more. [əˈbaʊt ðɪs]); 'for it might end, you know(Explaining the reason for her nervousness. [fər ɪt maɪt ɛnd ju noʊ]),' said Alice to herself(Alice spoke silently to herself. [sɛd ˈælɪs tɪ hərˈsɛlf]), 'in my going out altogether, like a candle(She might disappear completely, similar to a candle flame being extinguished. [ɪn maɪ goʊɪŋ aʊt ˌɔltəˈgɛðər laɪk ə ˈkændəl]). I wonder what I should be like then(She is curious about what would happen if she disappeared. [aɪ ˈwəndər wət aɪ ʃʊd bi laɪk ðɛn])?' And she tried to fancy(She attempted to imagine. [ənd ʃi traɪd tɪ ˈfænsi]) what the flame of a candle is like(The appearance of a candle's flame. [wət ðə fleɪm əv ə ˈkændəl ɪz laɪk]) after the candle is blown out(Once the candle has been extinguished. [ˈæftər ðə ˈkændəl ɪz bloʊn aʊt]), for she could not remember(Because she did not recall. [fər ʃi kʊd nɑt rɪˈmɛmbər]) ever having seen such a thing(Ever witnessing the flame after a candle is blown out. [ˈɛvər ˈhævɪŋ sin səʧ ə θɪŋ]).