Introduction
When the monastery at Ripon was founded in 661, Cuthbert served there under Abbot Eata. Eata clung loyally to a peculiar and not very accurate way of dating Easter borrowed from Ireland, and three years later King Oswy, who preferred the calendar used in Canterbury, Rome and the East, appointed Wilfrid in Eata’s stead. Cuthbert returned to the Abbey at Melrose in the Scottish borders.
ABOUT this time, according to his friend Herefrid the priest, who was formerly abbot of the monastery of Lindisfarne, he [Cuthbert] was seized with a pestilential disease, of which many inhabitants of Britain were at that time sick.*
The brethren of the monastery passed the whole night in prayer for his life and health; for they thought it essential to them that so pious a man should be present with them in the flesh. They did this without his knowing it; and when they told him of it in the morning, he exclaimed, “Then why am I lying here? I did not think it possible that God should have neglected your prayers: give me my stick and shoes.”
Accordingly, he got out of bed, and tried to walk, leaning on his stick; and finding his strength gradually return, he was speedily restored to health: but because the swelling on his thigh, though it died away to all outward appearances, struck into his inwards, he felt a little pain in his inside all his life afterwards; so that, as we find it expressed in the Apostles, “his strength was perfected in weakness.”*
* The ‘yellow plague’ broke out in 664 and spread rapidly over the British Isles, sparing only some parts of what is now Scotland. In 541 a pandemic of plague struck Constantinople and the Mediterranean during the reign of Justinian I (r. 527–565), and spread from there to break out sporadically across Europe over the next two hundred years (541-767).
* See 2 Corinthians 12:9. One is also put in mind of Jacob, who wrestled with God and was undefeated in the match, only to be left halt in one thigh ever after. See Genesis 32:24-32.
Précis
After returning from Ripon to Melrose Abbey in 664, St Cuthbert contracted the plague. When he learnt that his fellow monks had prayed through the night for him, he at once got up, scolding them for not mentioning it sooner. Thereafter he exhibited no more symptoms, apart from a little internal niggle that recurred to the end of his days. (60 / 60 words)
After returning from Ripon to Melrose Abbey in 664, St Cuthbert contracted the plague. When he learnt that his fellow monks had prayed through the night for him, he at once got up, scolding them for not mentioning it sooner. Thereafter he exhibited no more symptoms, apart from a little internal niggle that recurred to the end of his days.
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, because, if, may, or, unless, until, who.
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Word Games
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 Bed. Monastery. Think.
2 Afterward. Inside. Strength.
3 Express. His. So.
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.
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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