text_original: Within a short space of time destiny had placed me face to face with the man who at this epoch ruled the affairs of the world ; I felt it my duty, and I had the courage, never to offer to mere circumstance a sacrifice which I could not defend to my conscience both as a statesman and a private individual.
text_transcription: WITHIN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME DESTINY HAD PLACED ME FACE TO FACE WITH THE MAN WHO AT THIS EPOCH RULED THE AFFAIRS OF THE WORLD I FELT IT MY DUTY AND I HAD THE COURAGE NEVER TO OFFER TO MERE CIRCUMSTANCE A SACRIFICE WHICH I COULD NOT DEFEND TO MY CONSCIENCE BOTH AS A STATESMAN AND AS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL
phonemes: wɪðˌɪn ɐ ʃˈɔːɹt spˈeɪs ʌv tˈaɪm dˈɛstɪni hæd plˈeɪst mˌiː fˈeɪs tə fˈeɪs wɪððə mˈæn hˌuː æt ðɪs ˈɛpɑːk ɹˈuːld ðɪ ɐfˈɛɹz ʌvðə wˈɜːld ; aɪ fˈɛlt ɪt maɪ dˈuːɾi, ænd aɪ hæd ðə kˈɜːɹɪdʒ, nˈɛvɚ tʊ ˈɔfɚ tə mˈɪɹ sˈɜːkəmstˌæns ɐ sˈækɹᵻfˌaɪs wˌɪtʃ aɪ kʊd nˌɑːt dᵻfˈɛnd tə maɪ kˈɑːnʃəns bˈoʊθ æz ɐ stˈeɪtsmən ænd ɐ pɹˈaɪvət ˌɪndᵻvˈɪdʒuːəl.