Introduction
‘Now there are diversities of gifts,’ St Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12, ‘but the same Spirit.’ Cynewulf (possibly the eighth-century bishop Cynewulf of Lindisfarne) confirms that the gifts given by God to mankind are many and different, and also explains why it is that no one should expect to be good at everything.
UNTO the memory of one man’s mind,* through the Spirit of His mouth,* He sendeth wise eloquence and noble understanding; such a one can sing and speak many things; unto his soul is committed the power of wisdom.* One can awaken the harp before warriors, touching it full loudly with his fingers. One can set forth aright the law divine. One can tell the course of the stars, the expanse of creation. One can skilfully write the spoken word. To one He giveth victory in war, when bowmen send the storm of darts, the winged arrows, over their shields. One can boldly urge forward his bark over the salt sea, and stir the raging deep. One can climb the steep and lofty tree. One can fashion the sword, the well-tempered weapon. One knoweth the compass of the plains, the far-reaching ways.
So to us the Ruler, the Son of God, doth dispense His gifts on earth. But to no man will He give all wisdom of soul, lest, exalted above others by his own power, his pride work him evil.*
Whitman wrote ‘mind’ but added in a footnote that the text reads literally ‘memory of his mind.’
See Isaiah 59:21.
This uneven and selective distribution of gifts was also regarded by Adam Smith as a blessing, but for an additional reason: it makes people trade, and therefore try to understand one another. See No Dog Exchanges Bones with Another.
Précis
In a passage from his poem ‘Christ’, Cynewulf listed various gifts given by God to mankind, from inspired speech and skill on the harp through to blacksmithing, sailing and feats of athleticism. All he attributed to one God, but warned that no one man should expect to have many of them, otherwise the temptation to pride would be too great. (60 / 60 words)
In a passage from his poem ‘Christ’, Cynewulf listed various gifts given by God to mankind, from inspired speech and skill on the harp through to blacksmithing, sailing and feats of athleticism. All he attributed to one God, but warned that no one man should expect to have many of them, otherwise the temptation to pride would be too great.
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: because, despite, if, just, not, ought, until, who.
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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 Climb. Weapon. Wisdom.
2 Rage. Ruler. Spirit.
3 Mouth. Sea. Well.
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.)
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.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Word. 2. Work. 3. Earth. 4. Son. 5. Man. 6. Will. 7. Creation. 8. Deep. 9. Storm.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
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.
ns (9+8)
ensue. ions. nausea. noes. noise. noose. nose. ones. onus.
aeons. anise. anus. eons. ionise. nous. unease. unis.
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