A grave stele (headstone or column) dating back to about 430-420 BC, the opening years of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC). It shows a young man with a little bird in his left hand, reaching up with his right to a birdcage. Near him is a forlorn-looking servant and crouching cat. Like other Greeks of his time, Pericles had no concept of life after death, and was painfully aware that he could offer no consolation to the bereaved for the loss of children and husbands except the knowledge that “their story lives on, woven into the stuff of other men’s lives”. Four centuries later, the resurrection of Jesus Christ emboldened the Christians to a sure and certain hope: see St Bede on Run for Glory.
Introduction
In the winter of 431 BC, their annual Remembrance Day had a special resonance for Athenians: war had broken out with Sparta, a city felt to stand for crushing State control, even as Corinth stood for licentious ruin. Rising to deliver the keynote address, Pericles asked Athenians not just to grieve for the dead, but to cherish a City founded on liberty and self-control as a living monument to heroes.
COUNTING the quest to avenge her [the City’s] honour as the most glorious of all ventures, and leaving Hope, the uncertain goddess, to send them what she would, they faced the foe as they drew near him in the strength of their own manhood; and when the shock of battle came they chose rather to suffer the uttermost than to win life by weakness. So their memory has escaped the reproaches of men’s lips, but they bore instead on their bodies the marks of men’s hands, and in a moment of time, at the climax of their lives, were rapt away from a world filled for their dying eyes not with terror but with glory.
Such were the men who lie here and such the city that inspired them. We survivors may pray to be spared their bitter hour, but must disdain to meet the foe with a spirit less triumphant.
Précis
In 431 BC, the first year of the Peloponnesian War against Sparta, Athenian statesman Pericles gave the City’s annual Rembrance Day address. He reminded his listeners of the courage shown by the armed forces, and said they though all should pray never to undergo such a trial, they should hope also to meet it just as bravely. (57 / 60 words)
In 431 BC, the first year of the Peloponnesian War against Sparta, Athenian statesman Pericles gave the City’s annual Rembrance Day address. He reminded his listeners of the courage shown by the armed forces, and said they though all should pray never to undergo such a trial, they should hope also to meet it just as bravely.
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: although, besides, despite, must, otherwise, unless, until, whereas.
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