Then, overtaking his cohorts at the river Rubicon, which was the boundary of his province, he paused for a while, and realising what a step he was taking, he turned to those about him and said: “Even yet we may draw back; but once cross yon little bridge, and the whole issue is with the sword.”
As he stood in doubt, this sign was given him. On a sudden there appeared hard by a being of wondrous stature and beauty, who sat and played upon a reed; and when not only the shepherds flocked to hear him, but many of the soldiers left their posts, and among them some of the trumpeters, the apparition snatched a trumpet from one of them, rushed to the river, and sounding the war-note with mighty blast, strode to the opposite bank. Then Caesar cried: “Take we the course which the signs of the gods and the false dealing of our foes point out. The die is cast,” said he.*
* Suetonius’s account has furnished the English language with two useful sayings. ‘The die is cast’ means that a matter is now under the control of a higher power, as when a gambler who has thrown his dice must wait patiently for Fortune to favour him — or not. Similarly, to ‘cross the Rubicon’ means to pass the point of no return, to begin a course of action which, once begun, must be followed through to the end.
Précis
There at the River Rubicon, the boundary of his authority, Caesar halted, knowing that if he stepped across into Italy civil war was inevitable. At this tense moment, a mysterious figure appeared among the troops, playing on pipes. Suddenly he snatched a trumpet and sounded the advance. Thereupon Caesar cried to his men to follow, for the die was cast. (60 / 60 words)
There at the River Rubicon, the boundary of his authority, Caesar halted, knowing that if he stepped across into Italy civil war was inevitable. At this tense moment, a mysterious figure appeared among the troops, playing on pipes. Suddenly he snatched a trumpet and sounded the advance. Thereupon Caesar cried to his men to follow, for the die was cast.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, just, must, otherwise, since, unless, whereas.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
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.
1 Banquet. Leave. River.
2 Small. Soldier. Trumpet.
3 Accord. Bridge. Cast.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Draw. 2. Stand. 3. Set. 4. Plan. 5. Bank. 6. Left. 7. Found. 8. Cast. 9. Light.
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
dct (5+1)
deceit. dicta. duct. edict. educate.
ducat.
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