text_original: Although I was terribly startled at his menacing looks and posture, I yet had reflection enough left to convince me I had gone too far to retract, and that this was the critical minute which must decide my future lot in his service; I therefore snatched up the pestle of a mortar, and swore, if he offered to strike me without a cause, I should see whether his skull or my weapon was hardest.
text_transcription: ALTHOUGH I WAS TERRIBLY STARTLED AT HIS MENACING LOOKS AND POSTURE I YET HAD REFLECTION ENOUGH LEFT TO CONVINCE ME I HAD GONE TOO FAR TO RETRACT AND THAT THIS WAS THE CRITICAL MINUTE WHICH MUST DECIDE MY FUTURE LOT IN HIS SERVICE I THEREFORE SNATCHED UP THE PESTLE OF A MORTAR AND SWORE IF HE OFFERED TO STRIKE ME WITHOUT A CAUSE I SHOULD SEE WHETHER HIS SKULL OR MY WEAPON WAS HARDEST
phonemes: ɔːlðˈoʊ aɪ wʌz tˈɛɹᵻbli stˈɑːɹɾəld æt hɪz mˈɛnɪsɪŋ lˈʊks ænd pˈɔstʃɚ, aɪ jˈɛt hæd ɹᵻflˈɛkʃən ɪnˈʌf lˈɛft tə kənvˈɪns mˌiː aɪ hæd ɡɔn tˈuː fˈɑːɹ tə ɹᵻtɹˈækt, ænd ðæt ðɪs wʌzðə kɹˈɪɾɪkəl mˈɪnɪt wˌɪtʃ mˈʌst dᵻsˈaɪd maɪ fjˈuːtʃɚ lˈɑːt ɪn hɪz sˈɜːvɪs; aɪ ðˈɛɹfɔːɹ snˈætʃt ˌʌp ðə pˈɛsəl əvə mˈɔːɹɾɚ, ænd swˈɔːɹ, ɪf hiː ˈɔfɚd tə stɹˈaɪk mˌiː wɪðˌaʊt ɐ kˈɔːz, aɪ ʃˌʊd sˈiː wˈɛðɚ hɪz skˈʌl ɔːɹ maɪ wˈɛpən wʌz hˈɑːɹdɪst.