text_original: From the very first, he appeared to act only on the defensive; and in all likelihood, had the road been open to him, he would have turned tail at once, and taken to his heels.
text_transcription: FROM THE VERY FIRST HE APPEARED TO ACT ONLY ON THE DEFENSIVE AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD HAD THE ROAD BEEN OPENED TO HIM HE WOULD HAVE TURNED TAIL AT ONCE AND TAKEN TO HIS HEELS
phonemes: fɹʌmðə vˈɛɹi fˈɜːst, hiː ɐpˈɪɹd tʊ ˈækt ˈoʊnli ɔnðə dᵻfˈɛnsɪv; ænd ɪn ˈɔːl lˈaɪklihˌʊd, hæd ðə ɹˈoʊd bˌɪn ˈoʊpən tə hˌɪm, hiː wʊdhɐv tˈɜːnd tˈeɪl ɐtwˈʌns, ænd tˈeɪkən tə hɪz hˈiːlz.