text_original: This proved at first exceedingly difficult. The great gate seemed to defy the force of all the sledge hammer strokes that could be rained against it, and its warders were obstinate alike to the demands and the threats of the besiegers.
text_transcription: THIS PROVED AT FIRST EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT THE GREAT GAIT SEEMED TO DEFY THE FORCE OF ALL THE SLEDGE HAMMER STROKES THAT COULD BE RAINED AGAINST IT AND ITS WARDERS WERE OBSTINATE ALIKE TO THE DEMANDS AND THREATS OF THE BESIEGERS
phonemes: ðɪs pɹˈuːvd æt fˈɜːst ɛksˈiːdɪŋli dˈɪfɪkəlt. ðə ɡɹˈeɪt ɡˈeɪt sˈiːmd tə dᵻfˈaɪ ðə fˈɔːɹs ʌv ˈɔːl ðə slˈɛdʒ hˈæmɚ stɹˈoʊks ðæt kʊd biː ɹˈeɪnd ɐɡˈɛnst ɪt, ænd ɪts wˈɔːɹdɚz wɜːɹ ˈɑːbstᵻnət ɐlˈaɪk tə ðə dᵻmˈændz ænd ðə θɹˈɛts ʌvðə bᵻsˈiːdʒɚz.