‘HOW do I know what is greatest,
How do I know what is least?
That is My Father’s business,’
Said Eddi, Wilfrid’s priest.
‘But — three are gathered together —
Listen to me and attend.*
I bring good news, my brethren!’
Said Eddi of Manhood End.
And he told the Ox of a Manger
And a Stall in Bethlehem,
And he spoke to the Ass of a Rider,
That rode to Jerusalem.*
They steamed and dripped in the chancel,
They listened and never stirred,
While, just as though they were Bishops,
Eddi preached them The Word,
Till the gale blew off on the marshes
And the windows showed the day,
And the Ox and the Ass together
Wheeled and clattered away.
And when the Saxons mocked him,
Said Eddi of Manhood End,
‘I dare not shut His chapel
On such as care to attend.’*
See Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
The tradition of an ox and an ass at Jesus’s crib reflects Isaiah 1:3: “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.” Kipling also picks up on the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, in Matthew 21:1-9.
Kipling’s Eddi preached the gospel to animals; according to Mediaeval legend, Eddi’s contemporary St Bede went one better. See St Bede and the Singing Stones.
Précis
Eddi reasons that even if his congregation is only an ox and an ass, there could be no more appropriate one for the birth of Jesus Christ, so he tells the spellbound creatures of that night in Bethlehem. The Saxons mocked him, but he countered that he had kept his promise of a service for any who cared to attend. (60 / 60 words)
Eddi reasons that even if his congregation is only an ox and an ass, there could be no more appropriate one for the birth of Jesus Christ, so he tells the spellbound creatures of that night in Bethlehem. The Saxons mocked him, but he countered that he had kept his promise of a service for any who cared to attend.
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: about, although, because, despite, or, since, unless, until.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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 Push. Stir. Wheel.
2 Ring. Shut. Stormy.
3 Gale. Little. Nobody.
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.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
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?
Your Words ()
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