The Copybook

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

1027

By George Romney (1734-1802), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Portrait of a Lady by Edmund Burke

Edmund Burke takes time off from campaigning for liberty to reflect on the delights of captivity.

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1028

Photo by Jastrow, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

At a Solemn Musick by John Milton

John Milton shows his appreciation for noble words and music in uplifting harmony.

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1029

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

The Power of Balance by George Canning MP

George Canning warned the Commons to be very careful about their plans for reform.

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1030

© Mageslayer99, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Spectatress by George Canning MP

George Canning urged Britain not to bring Continental Europe’s topsy-turvy politics home by getting too closely involved.

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1031

By George Romney (1734-1802), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

An Easy Life by Frederick Marryat

Mr Easy believes he has missed out on fatherhood, and having nothing else to do, turns to political campaigning.

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1032

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

Gideon’s Fleece by Clay Lane

Gideon is chosen by God to save Israel from the Midianites, but doubts his fitness for the task.

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

© Nicholas Armitage / Clay Lane, 2025

April 25 NS

April 12 OS

The Life-Giving Spring : An obscure officer in the Roman Army gains a dizzying promotion after performing a simple act of kindness.
The Gallipoli Landings : By 1915, the Allies were struggling to break through Germany’s Western Front, and so began looking for another line of attack.
The Avengers : John Buchan was moved by the way the nations of the British Empire volunteered for service in the Great War.
A Tax on Companionship : William Windham MP was appalled at the idea of levying a tax on man’s best friend.
Christ is Risen! : Felicia Skene recalls the Easter celebrations on one emotionally-charged night in Athens
Saddled : Use these words in sentences, and see if you can use one of them as a verb.
Russia’s Heroic Stand : In 1941, with much of the West subdued, Adolf Hitler bent the full force of his hatred on Moscow.
Approachable : Replace the verb ‘can’ with these alternatives, and explain how the meaning of the sentence has changed.
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.
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