Leveled Readings / Procopius: The Plague, 542, History of the Wars, II.xxii-xxxiii
Procopius: The Plague, 542, History of the Wars, II.xxii-xxxiii
Procopius, History of the Wars, on the plague of 542 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
“…for this calamity it is quite impossible either to express in words or to conceive in thought any explanation, except indeed to refer it to God.”
Adapted · about grade 4
Procopius said no one could explain the plague, except to say it came from God.
Adapted · about grade 7
For this disaster it is impossible to put into words or even imagine any explanation, except to say it came from God.
Adapted · about grade 10
For this calamity it is impossible to express in words or conceive in thought any explanation, except to attribute it to God.
Used in: How did people explain and respond to the Black Death?