ANSWERS: 1
  • A copybook was, as its name implies, was a book in which school children would copy, among other things, the alphabet and proverbs to refine his or her penmenship. Kipling is refering to the sound advice portrayed in the proverbs ("the wages of sin is death", "better the devil you know"...). He personifies sound wisdom as the Gods of the Copybook Headings and pits them against foolishness and imprudence (the Gods of the Marketplace).

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