Introduction
In a paroxysm of envy, the great craftsman Daedalus murdered his nephew, who seemed likely surpass him in skill, and the sentence of Athens’s highest court was death. Daedalus managed to flee to Crete, but King Minos made life as hateful there as in any prison. So Daedalus fashioned wings for himself and his son Icarus, and prepared to fly to freedom.
WHEN now the finishing touches had been put upon the work, the master workman himself balanced his body on two wings and hung poised on the beaten air. He taught his son also and said: “I warn you, Icarus, to fly in a middle course, lest, if you go too low, the water may weight your wings; if you go too high, the fire may burn them. Fly between the two. And I bid you not to shape your course by Boötes or Helice or the drawn sword of Orion,* but fly where I shall lead.” At the same time he tells him the rules of flight and fits the strange wings on his boy’s shoulders.
While he works and talks the old man’s cheeks are wet with tears, and his fatherly hands tremble. He kissed his son, which he was destined never again to do, and rising on his wings, he flew on ahead, fearing for his companion, just like a bird which has led forth her fledglings from the high nest into the unsubstantial air.
He encourages the boy to follow, instructs him in the fatal art of flight, himself flapping his wings and looking back on his son.
* Boötes is a constellation known also as the Herdsman, whose brightest star is Arcturus; Helice is the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear; Orion is the constellation known also as the Hunter.
Précis
Ovid tells how the legendary craftsman Daedalus, in order to escape Crete, fixed wings to his arms and those of his son Icarus. Keenly aware of the risks involved, he pleaded tearfully with Icarus to follow him closely, and fly neither too low nor too high. Then with a kiss Daedalus led the way, anxiously looking back over his shoulder. (60 / 60 words)
Ovid tells how the legendary craftsman Daedalus, in order to escape Crete, fixed wings to his arms and those of his son Icarus. Keenly aware of the risks involved, he pleaded tearfully with Icarus to follow him closely, and fly neither too low nor too high. Then with a kiss Daedalus led the way, anxiously looking back over his shoulder.
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, besides, if, must, ought, unless, whereas, whether.
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