Introduction
It is November 5th, 333 BC. Aided by his fast friend Hephaestion, the young King Alexander of Macedon in northern Greece has just defeated Darius III, King of Persia, at the Battle of Issus on the modern-day Turkish-Syrian border. The first thing he did after taking possession of the enemy camp was to go to the hot bath prepared for Darius. ‘So this’ he laughed as slaves poured in fragrant salts ‘is what it is to be a king!’
HAVING bathed and had his wound dressed, he sat down to make proof of a Persian supper; but at that moment he heard a loud and mournful wailing close at hand, and asking the cause, was told that the royal robe of Darius had been brought to the captive princesses, and that they were lamenting the death of their lord. He immediately sent to inform them that Darius had escaped, and added that they should have no fears, for they should retain all their honours and titles.
The next day he offered a visit to Sisygambis, the mother of Darius.* The wife, Statira, he would not attempt to see, since he knew that the very sight of her would be an insult and injury to her husband; nor did he wish to be tempted to make her his own by the sight or even the report of her beauty, which was said to excel that of any woman in Asia.
* Sisygambis (? - 323 BC), mother of Darius III of Persia.
Précis
After the Battle of Issus in 333 BC, Alexander the Great took possession of the enemy camp. Hearing sounds of mourning, he left his meal to assure the court of vanquished King Darius that their lord had escaped, and the following day paid a respectful visit to Darius’s mother. Doubting his self-restraint, he left Darius’s lovely queen, Statira, unmolested. (59 / 60 words)
After the Battle of Issus in 333 BC, Alexander the Great took possession of the enemy camp. Hearing sounds of mourning, he left his meal to assure the court of vanquished King Darius that their lord had escaped, and the following day paid a respectful visit to Darius’s mother. Doubting his self-restraint, he left Darius’s lovely queen, Statira, unmolested.
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: because, besides, if, may, not, unless, whereas, whether.
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.
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