Introduction
In 1913, Aubrey Herbert MP rode through the mountainous country near Albania’s border with Montenegro. The locals in Rrapshë, exhilarated by the successful Albanian Revolt of 1912 against Turkey, were celebrating a festival, and amidst gunshots and denunciations of Montenegro’s historic crimes against Albanians they called on Herbert for a speech.
I AM an Englishman, but I am not speaking for England. You have many friends in England, who are glad that Albania has been saved, for we have always fought for freedom and you have always fought for freedom, and now you have achieved it. For five hundred years you have worn black in mourning for Skenderbeg;* soon, I hope, with the help of God, you will wear coats of white for your King.*
Uncertainty is trying, but patience conquers all things. You have been patient for so long; be patient a little longer. It is not my business to offer you advice. It is in England that your other friends and I do what we can for Albania. It is your business here to lay the foundations of the Albanian State. Your enemies have said that your feuds were too many and your quarrels too ancient to be overcome. Prove that your enemies are wrong.
Gjergj Kastrioti (1405-1468), known as Skanderbeg (Skënderbej), led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire that lasted from 1443 to 1468 and ended with his death from natural causes. All the territories gained were won back by the Ottomans except for Kruje, which was taken by the Republic of Venice.
Herbert was proposed by some influential Albanian figures as a possible King of Albania, though he turned the honour down. So too (reputedly) did test-cricketer and diplomat Charles Burgess Fry (1872-1956), who claimed he was approached while working as assistant to fellow-batsman Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji of Nawanagar, at the League of Nations in Geneva.
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 Conquer. Overcome. Wrong.
2 Many. Say. So.
3 Ancient. Do. Have.
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.
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 Ancient. 2 White. 3 Patient. 4 Friendly. 5 Longer. 6 Glad. 7 Helpful. 8 Willing. 9 Mournful.
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).
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 ()
