The Copybook

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

April 20 ns April 7 os

Read short passages similar to those NL Clay collected in his anthologies, to gain a feeling for the language, history and culture of the English-speaking world.

In The Copybook

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Easter Day

April 7 os

© Fumihiko Ueno. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

The First Easter from The Authorized Version

In a translation from the Authorized Version of the Bible, published in 1611, St Mark recounts the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb.

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Dissolution of the Rump Parliament

April 20

‘You Are No Parliament!’ by Edmund Ludlow

In April 1653, Oliver Cromwell learnt that Parliament was planning to prevent him from packing the Commons with yes-men.

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Featured

© Sergio bellavista, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Caesar Crosses the Rubicon by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus

When Julius Caesar defied the Senate’s explicit order to resign his military command, he knew there could be no turning back.

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1

© Dasrath Shrestha Beejukchhen (Bablu), Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.

If I Had But Two Little Wings by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge holds on to those precious moments when loneliness is a problem for tomorrow.

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2

By William Conor (1881-1968), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

The Minstrel Boy by Thomas Moore

Irish poet Thomas Moore believed a life given for his country’s freedom was not given in vain.

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3

By Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh (?1610-1670), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

A ’Tivity Trick by Thomas Hardy

William Dewy runs into a menacing bull, but his soothing music doesn’t seem to be soothing enough.

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4

By Roland Vivian Pitchforth (1895-1982), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

The Marks of a Tyrant by Aristotle

Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle explains what it is that defines a tyranny.

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5

© Udimu, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.

In This Sign Conquer by Eusebius of Caesarea

Eusebius remembers the banner that Emperor Constantine carried into battle on the day he won his crown.

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6

By Henry Bellagnome, Wikimedia COmmons. CC BY-SA 2.0 generic.

Time Is by Henry van Dyke

Henry van Dyke wrote this for the sundial at Katrina Trask’s community retreat at Yaddo, New York.

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Clay Lane The Copybook
About Clay Lane nicholas@claylane.uk

© Nicholas Armitage / Clay Lane, 2025

April 20 NS

April 7 OS

Breaking Death : For Jesus Christ to step down alive from his cross would have been a mighty miracle, but not the mightiest.
‘You Are No Parliament!’ : In April 1653, Oliver Cromwell learnt that Parliament was planning to prevent him from packing the Commons with yes-men.
The First Easter : In a translation from the Authorized Version of the Bible, published in 1611, St Mark recounts the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb.
A Collect for Easter Day : A short prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, for the day of Christ’s resurrection.
The Gambler : Which well-known expression is Dr Johnson talking about here?
If I Had But Two Little Wings : Samuel Taylor Coleridge holds on to those precious moments when loneliness is a problem for tomorrow.
Red Eye : Reconstruct the speaker’s original words from these reports.
Responsible : Combine each group of ideas into a single sentence, in as many ways as you can.
Opposites : Suggest words that seem opposite in meaning to the words in this list.
Three of a Kind : For each of these things, think of three different varieties of it.
The Son of God Goes Forth to War : A hymn in praise of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Peace Plan : Report this brief exchange between Anna and M. Pierre and Tolstoy’s War and Peace
Metaphors : Choose one of these words and use it metaphorically, not literally.
The Marks of a Tyrant : Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle explains what it is that defines a tyranny.
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