Young Thomas Cochrane learned early on that for a sailor, making a pet of a parrot could be surprisingly hazardous.byThomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald
The Sublime Porte in Constantinople (Istanbul), where foreign ambassadors were received.
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The capital of Turkey today is Ankara in the east, but in the time of François de Callières it was still at Constantinople in the west, the seat of the Roman Empire from 330 to 1453. Foreign dignitaries were welcomed here at the Sublime Porte, one of the gates of the Topkapı Palace, the residence of the Sultan’s Grand Vizier. The ways of the Ottoman Turk were not admired by English diplomats, as William Eton admitted: see The Source of Civilisation. De Callières would have warned him against allowing this to affect his dealings with the Grand Vizier; but as Mandell Creighton recognised, lecturing other nations is something of an English habit arising from ignorance of their history: see National Sympathy.
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The Sublime Porte in Constantinople (Istanbul), where foreign ambassadors were received.
The capital of Turkey today is Ankara in the east, but in the time of François de Callières it was still at Constantinople in the west, the seat of the Roman Empire from 330 to 1453. Foreign dignitaries were welcomed here at the Sublime Porte, one of the gates of the Topkapı Palace, the residence of the Sultan’s Grand Vizier. The ways of the Ottoman Turk were not admired by English diplomats, as William Eton admitted: see The Source of Civilisation. De Callières would have warned him against allowing this to affect his dealings with the Grand Vizier; but as Mandell Creighton recognised, lecturing other nations is something of an English habit arising from ignorance of their history: see National Sympathy.
He should take a pride in knowing the history of the country, so that he may be able to give the prince pleasure by praising the great feats of his ancestors, as well as for his own benefit to interpret current events in the light of the historical movements of the past. When it becomes known that the negotiator possesses such knowledge and uses it aptly, his credit will certainly rise, and if he is adroit enough to turn his conversations at court to those subjects of which he is a master, he will find that his diplomatic task is greatly assisted, and that the pleasure he gives to those around him is amply repaid to him in the smoothness of negotiation.
ByFrançois de Callières1645-1717
From ‘The Practice of Diplomacy’ (1919), a translation by Alexander Frederick Whyte of ‘De la Manière de Negocier avec les Souverains’ (1716), by François de Callières (1645-1717).
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author
aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that
strike you. How do they help the author communicate his
ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you?
How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939)
by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at
Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn,
Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University,
USA.
Précis
It is particularly important, he went on, for a diplomat to acquaint himself with the history and national heroes of the people among whom he is working. Few things can contribute more to the esteem in which his own country will be held, and he will find his proposals much more warmly received.(53 / 60 words)
It is particularly important, he went on, for a diplomat to acquaint himself with the history and national heroes of the people among whom he is working. Few things can contribute more to the esteem in which his own country will be held, and he will find his proposals much more warmly received.
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Variations:
1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words.2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words.3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, because, despite, if, may, not, unless.
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1Benefit.Can.Know.
2Authorize.Movement.Reason.
3Enough.Law.Take.
Variations:1.include direct and indirect speech2.include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who3.use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations:
1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats.2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went.3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations:1.use a minimum of seven words for each sentence2.include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never3.use the words ‘must’ to make commands4.compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
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