Leveled Readings / St. Jerome (c.340-420): The Fate of Rome, from Letter to Agenuchia 409 CE, lamenting the Visigoths
St. Jerome (c.340-420): The Fate of Rome, from Letter to Agenuchia 409 CE, lamenting the Visigoths
St. Jerome, Letter to Ageruchia (409 CE)
These are adaptations, not the original. The original wording is always shown first. Each adapted version restates the same passage at about a grade 4, grade 7, or grade 10 reading level without adding or removing ideas. Quote the original in student writing.
Original wording
“Rome has to fight within her own borders not for glory but for bare life; and that she does not even fight but buys the right to exist by giving gold and sacrificing all her substance…”
Adapted · about grade 4
Rome now fights just to stay alive, and pays gold to be left alone.
Adapted · about grade 7
Rome must fight inside its own borders, not for glory but just to survive, and it buys its life by paying gold.
Adapted · about grade 10
Rome fights within her own borders not for glory but for bare survival, and does not even fight but buys the right to exist with gold and all her wealth.