text_original: As to myself," continued the poor young man, "my life has been a life of hardship, and I have learned to hold it as nothing; but when I reflect on what must have been the condition of my Isabel, I own to you, dear Sir, that my fortitude forsakes me, and the blackest despair takes possession of my soul."
text_transcription: AS TO MYSELF CONTINUED THE POOR YOUNG MAN MY LIFE HAS BEEN A LIFE OF HARDSHIP AND I HAVE LEARNED TO HOLD IT AS NOTHING BUT WHEN I REFLECT ON WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE CONDITION OF MY ISABEL I OWN TO YOU DEAR SIR THAT MY FORTITUDE FORSAKES ME AND THE BLACKEST DESPAIR TAKES POSSESSION OF MY SOUL
phonemes: æz tə maɪsˈɛlf," kəntˈɪnjuːd ðə pˈʊɹ jˈʌŋ mˈæn, "maɪ lˈaɪf hˈæzbiːn ɐ lˈaɪf ʌv hˈɑːɹdʃɪp, ænd aɪ hæv lˈɜːnd tə hˈoʊld ɪɾ æz nˈʌθɪŋ; bˌʌt wɛn aɪ ɹᵻflˈɛkt ˌɔn wʌt mˈʌstɐv bˌɪn ðə kəndˈɪʃən ʌv maɪ ˈɪzəbˌɛl, aɪ ˈoʊn tə juː, dˈɪɹ sˌɜː, ðæt maɪ fˈɔːɹɾɪtˌuːd fɔːɹsˈeɪks mˌiː, ænd ðə blˈækɪst dᵻspˈɛɹ tˈeɪks pəzˈɛʃən ʌv maɪ sˈoʊl."