Introduction
Early in the 6th century, northern Gaul came under the control of the Franks, whose capital was Metz on what is now the border between France and Germany. Their chieftains frequently kidnapped and enslaved or ransomed the sons of noble Roman families.
GREGORY, Bishop of Langres, had a nephew named Attalus, who was kidnapped by a Frankish chieftain near Trier, and kept in slavery as a stable-boy.
His ransom price was ten gold pounds, a sum the Bishop could not possibly raise, so Leo, the Bishop’s cook, offered to sell himself into slavery to the Franks, and help Attalus escape.
Leo’s gifts as a chef did so much for his new master’s political standing that he became indispensable.
‘Should we be worried,’ joked his master’s son-in-law, who fancied himself a wit, ‘that one day you’ll run off and leave us?’
‘I plan to do so tonight’ Leo said without a blush, and they both laughed.
But that night Leo and Attalus stole two horses from the stable, and made for home.
They passed four nervous and hungry days and nights, always listening for the sound of pursuit. But at last they reached Langres, where the Bishop publicly declared Leo a free man, and even made him a Roman citizen for life.
Précis
In the early 6th century, Frankish invaders kidnapped the nephew of the Bishop of Langres and demanded a ransom. As he could not pay, his cook, Leo, sold himself into slavery to the Franks, and helped the Bishop’s nephew to escape. Leo was officially set at liberty, and named a Roman Citizen. (52 / 60 words)
In the early 6th century, Frankish invaders kidnapped the nephew of the Bishop of Langres and demanded a ransom. As he could not pay, his cook, Leo, sold himself into slavery to the Franks, and helped the Bishop’s nephew to escape. Leo was officially set at liberty, and named a Roman Citizen.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, despite, if, ought, since, unless, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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 But. Listen. Ten.
2 Not. Run. Sum.
3 Political. Should. Stand.
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.)
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 ()
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