The Copybook

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

April 23 ns April 10 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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The Feast of St George

April 23 ns

© OneArmedMan, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

St George the Triumphant Martyr by Clay Lane

One of the Emperor Galerius’s most trusted generals openly defied him.

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Eastertide

April 10 os

© Christos Klearchos, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0 generic.

Christ is Risen! by Felicia Skene

Felicia Skene recalls the Easter celebrations on one emotionally-charged night in Athens

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Featured

From the Royal Archives, Windsor Collection, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Indian Mutiny by Jawaharlal Nehru

The Indian Mutiny began with a revolt among disgruntled soldiers, and ended with the making of the British Raj.

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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 23 NS

April 10 OS

A Tale of a Garter : Following the Battle of Crécy in 1346, Edward III instituted an order of chivalry in honour of St George, inspired (some said) by something he picked up in the street.
Christ is Risen! : Felicia Skene recalls the Easter celebrations on one emotionally-charged night in Athens
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.
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.
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