Introduction
Aesop’s Fable of the Lion and the Wild Ass is the origin of the phrase ‘the lion’s share’, meaning the largest portion by far. The version below comes from Sir Roger L’Estrange’s ground-breaking collection of 1669, just as he wrote it. “People should have a care” he advised “how they Engage themselves in Partnerships with Men that are too Mighty for them, whether it be in Mony, Pleasure, or Bus’ness.”
A LION, an Ass, and some other of their Fellow-Forresters, went a Hunting one day; and everyone to go share and share-like in what they took. They pluck’d down a Stag, and cut him up into so many Parts; but as they were entering upon the Dividend, Hands off says the Lion: This Part is mine by the Privilege of my Quality: This, because I’ll have it in spite of your Teeth:* This again, because I took most Pains for ’t; and if you Dispute the Fourth, we must e’en Pluck a Crow* about it. So the Confederates Mouths were all stopt, and they went away as mute as Fishes.
Original spelling
* The Lion implies that he is bravely standing up for his rights, when he is merely bullying an Ass.
* ‘Pluck a crow’ means ‘Hold a debate’. As Phaedrus, a contemporary of St Paul, told the tale, the Lion’s final threat was violence: as Sir Roger told it, the final threat was a committee.
Précis
In Sir Roger l’Estrange’s retelling of the famous Fable, a lion engaged his fellow-animals in a stag hunt, promising equal shares. But afterwards he claimed everything, as their superior and the hardiest hunter. He defied them (bravely, he reckoned) to contest his claim, threatening them at last with the council chamber; and the others just melted away. (56 / 60 words)
In Sir Roger l’Estrange’s retelling of the famous Fable, a lion engaged his fellow-animals in a stag hunt, promising equal shares. But afterwards he claimed everything, as their superior and the hardiest hunter. He defied them (bravely, he reckoned) to contest his claim, threatening them at last with the council chamber; and the others just melted away.
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: about, besides, if, or, otherwise, since, unless, whereas.
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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 Off. Other. Some.
2 Enter. Into. One.
3 Again. Dispute. Spite.
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.
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Mine. 2. Down. 3. Like.
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?
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