Introduction
After the death of St Guthlac in 714, his sister St Pega was left in charge of his hermitage at Crowland in modern-day Lincolnshire. For many years, exiled Mercian prince Æthelbald had been a frequent guest, so when one of his servants developed an eye problem which had all the doctors baffled, Crowland was their first thought.
THERE was a boatman of the aforesaid exile Athelbald* whose eyes had been for twelve months overspread with the white speck and dimness. When his physicians had long treated him with salves, and this no whit effected his healing, he was divinely admonished within, that if they brought him to Guthlac’s resting-place, he should recover his health and sight.
Not long after his friends brought him to the place Crowland, and they spoke to Christ’s servant Pega; and she was informed of the firm and fast faith of the man. Then she led him to the church wherein the venerable body of Guthlac was; she took some of the hallowed salt which Guthlac himself had formerly hallowed, and wetted it, and dropped it on his eyes; and ere she put a second drop on the second eye he was able to see with that eye, and he readily perceived what there was in the room, and he went home whole and sound.*
* From 709 to 716, when his second cousin Ceolred wore the crown, prince Æthelbald was not welcome at the Mercian court, and spent much of his time in the Fens with Guthlac. Æthelbald came to the throne of Mercia in 716, and ruled until his assassination in 757.
* See also 2 Kings 2:19-22, in which Elisha somewhat counter-intuitively purifies the irrigation waters at Jericho by throwing salt into the springs, causing the crops to grow abundantly. Salt was an essential addition to the sacrifices of the Temple: Leviticus 2:13.
Précis
Shortly after St Guthlac of Crowland died in 715, a boatman working for prince Athelbald was afflicted by an incurable eye complaint. The boatman went to Crowland, where the hermit’s sister Pega was now in charge, and she anointed his eyes with salt blessed by her brother. Even before the treatment was completed, the boatman could see clearly once again. (60 / 60 words)
Shortly after St Guthlac of Crowland died in 715, a boatman working for prince Athelbald was afflicted by an incurable eye complaint. The boatman went to Crowland, where the hermit’s sister Pega was now in charge, and she anointed his eyes with salt blessed by her brother. Even before the treatment was completed, the boatman could see clearly once again.
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, may, must, since, unless, whereas.
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 Go. Inform. Should.
2 Drop. Home. Salt.
3 If. Not. Servant.
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.)
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Faithless. 2 Monthly. 3 Able. 4 Divine. 5 Longest. 6 Ready. 7 Restless. 8 Former. 9 Fast.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding in-.
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 ()
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
