text_original: V/hen old age and sickness pressed him hard, and the reins of power were slipping from his hands, his fears of treachery proved fatal to his nearest intimates and kinsmen, to those who h.ad secured his rise to empire, or had shown their loyalty by the service of a life time.
text_transcription: WHEN OLD AGE AND SICKNESS PRESSED HIM HARD AND THE REINS OF POWER WERE SLIPPING FROM HIS HANDS HIS FEAR OF TREACHERY PROVED FATAL TO HIS NEAREST INTIMATES AND KINSMEN TO THOSE WHO HAD SECURED HIS RISE TO EMPIRE OR HAD SHOWN THEIR LOYALTY BY THE SERVICE OF A LIFETIME
phonemes: vˈiː slˈæʃ hˈɛn ˈoʊld ˈeɪdʒ ænd sˈɪknəs pɹˈɛst hˌɪm hˈɑːɹd, ænd ðə ɹˈeɪnz ʌv pˈaʊɚ wɜː slˈɪpɪŋ fɹʌm hɪz hˈændz, hɪz fˈɪɹz ʌv tɹˈɛtʃɚɹi pɹˈuːvd fˈeɪɾəl tə hɪz nˌɪɹɪst ˈɪntᵻməts ænd kˈɪnzmɛn, tə ðoʊz hˌuː ˈeɪtʃ.ˈæd sᵻkjˈʊɹd hɪz ɹˈaɪz tʊ ˈɛmpaɪɚ, ɔːɹ hæd ʃˈoʊn ðɛɹ lˈɔɪəlɾi baɪ ðə sˈɜːvɪs əvə lˈaɪf tˈaɪm.