jQuery .html() gets or sets html content of the target element;
Also check jQuery .text()
js:
$(function(){
var html = $('.target-copy').html(); // copy html
$('.target-paste').html( html ); // paste html
});
html:
<p>
<strong>copied html:</strong> <span class="target-copy">The quick <em>brown fox</em> jumps over the <span style="color:green;">lazy dog</span>.</span>
</p>
<p>
<strong>pasted html:</strong> <span class="target-paste"></span>
</p>