The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

475

By Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Character of Sir Isaac Newton Humphrey Newton

Sir Isaac’s secretary has left us an engaging portrait of a kindly genius, the absent-minded professor of our fancy.

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476

By Anonymous (1810), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Eureka! Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

When Archimedes discovered the principle of displacement, he was hot on the trail of a clever fraud.

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477

© Marathon, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Table Steaks Pierre-Jean Grosley

French travel writer Pierre-Jean Grosley toured Georgian London just in time to witness a culinary revolution: the sandwich.

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478

© cartese, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Dog and Wig Anonymous

A loyal dog shows his initiative in recovering his master’s property, though his timing might have been better.

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479

By Hubert Robert (1733–1808), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Fiddling While Rome Burns Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus

In 64, Nero watched on with fascination as Rome was consumed by fire — the Emperor’s idea of performance art.

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480

Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Annunciation to Mary The Authorized Version

An angel appeared to Mary in her home in Nazareth, and offered her the chance to be part of nothing less than the reopening of the doors of Paradise.

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