Can I make the <span> looks like a read-only and fixed size 's <input type="text" > using css or javascript???

Question

I have a <span> which encloses a very long message

<span>A very long message..........</span>

Can I make the span 's behavior look like a read-only and fixed sized <input type="text"> using CSS or java script ? I want the displayed message will has the fixed length displayed and user can scroll to see the whole message if the message is so long, just like the input control of the following code:

<input type="text" value="A very long message.........." readonly="readonly" size="40" >

Answer 1

Tadaa!

<input type="text" value="A very long message.........." readonly="readonly" size="40" >

Answer 2

Something like this?

<div style="height:200px;overflow:auto;">text</div>