text_original: The weakness of the Emperor and the strength and inde  pendence of the German princes rendered any close union with Spain impossible, while Spain herself, tho'ugh she struggled till 1659 against her impending fate, was already a declining power.
text_transcription: THE WEAKNESS OF THE EMPEROR AND THE STRENGTH AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE GERMAN PRINCES RENDERED ANY CLOSE UNION WITH SPAIN IMPOSSIBLE WHILE SPAIN HERSELF THOUGH SHE STRUGGLED TILL SIXTEEN FIFTY NINE AGAINST HER IMPENDING FATE WAS ALREADY A DECLINING POWER
phonemes: ðə wˈiːknəs ʌvðɪ ˈɛmpɚɹɚ ænd ðə stɹˈɛŋθ ænd ˌɪndə pˈɛndəns ʌvðə dʒˈɜːmən pɹˈɪnsᵻz ɹˈɛndɚd ˌɛni klˈoʊs jˈuːniən wɪð spˈeɪn ɪmpˈɑːsᵻbəl, wˌaɪl spˈeɪn hɜːsˈɛlf, θˈɑːʌɡ ʃiː stɹˈʌɡəld tˈɪl wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɪkshˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti nˈaɪn ɐɡˈɛnst hɜːɹ ɪmpˈɛndɪŋ fˈeɪt, wʌz ɔːlɹˌɛdi ɐ dᵻklˈaɪnɪŋ pˈaʊɚ.