To keep me from the chill of the cold deep, love lends his aid, hot in my eager breast. The nearer I approach, and the nearer draw the shores, and the less of the way remains, the greater my joy to hasten on. When in truth I can be seen as well as see, by your glance you straightway give me heart, and make me strong. Now, too, I strain in my course to give pleasure to my lady, and toss my arms in the stroke for you to see. Your nurse can scarce stay you from rushing down into the tide — for I saw this, too, and you did not cheat my eye. Yet, though she held you as you went, she could not keep you from wetting your foot at the water’s edge. You welcome me with your embrace, share happy kisses with me — kisses, O ye great gods, worth seeking across the deep! — and from your own shoulders you strip the robes to give them over to me, and dry my hair all dripping with the rain of the sea.
Abridged
Précis
At last, Leander came in sight of the shore. His eye caught Hero running down to meet him, in defiance of her nurse, and he exaggerated his manly stroke. As he crawled up the beach, Hero smothered him with kisses and dried him with her own robe, and Leander felt it had all been worthwhile. (55 / 60 words)
At last, Leander came in sight of the shore. His eye caught Hero running down to meet him, in defiance of her nurse, and he exaggerated his manly stroke. As he crawled up the beach, Hero smothered him with kisses and dried him with her own robe, and Leander felt it had all been worthwhile.
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: may, not, or, ought, since, until, whether, who.
Archive
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 Across. Shoulder. Splendor.
2 My. Stole. Well.
3 Breast. Go. Sound.
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.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
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.
1 Differ. 2 Stroke. 3 Lift. 4 Mind. 5 Sound. 6 Edge. 7 Course. 8 Stay. 9 Keep.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
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.
1 Bend. 2 Strike. 3 Stroke. 4 Shoulder. 5 Stay. 6 Fear. 7 Swim. 8 Strip. 9 Arm.
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.
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.
shrd (9)
shard. shared. sheared. sheered. sherd. shored. shred. shroud. ushered.
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