The Copybook

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

169

© Oscar Sir Avendaño (artist), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Dancing in the Dock Jean-François de Bourgoing

The fandango is Spain’s most alluring national dance, and the story goes that even the most solemn clergyman could not resist it.

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170

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

How the Pepyses Kept Twelfth Day Samuel Pepys

In the family of Samuel Pepys, the Feast of the Epiphany was kept with music, cake and quaint traditions.

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171

By Frederick Piercy (1830—1891), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Great Brassey Keeps his Word Samuel Smiles

Once railway engineer Thomas Brassey made a promise he kept it — even if he wasn’t aware that he’d made one.

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172

By Hieronymus Bosch (?1450-1516), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Who Can Refute a Sneer? William Paley

Clever people have realised that it is easier to get people on your side by mockery than by persuasion.

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173

© Aleda12, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Mind Over Matter William Shakespeare

John of Gaunt tries to persuade his son Henry that banishment from England isn’t such a bad thing, if you think about in the right way.

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174

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

Silas Marner Misses his Gold George Eliot

Silas Marner, the weaver, plans to take a comforting look at his savings while he eats his dinner.

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