Edit in JSFiddle

$(function(){
    var html = $('.target-copy').html(); // copy html
    $('.target-paste').html( html ); // paste html
});

<div class="well">
    <strong>copied html:</strong> <span class="label label-info target-copy">The quick <em>brown fox</em> jumps over the <span style="color:yellow;">lazy dog</span>.</span>
</div>

<div class="well">
    <strong>pasted html:</strong> <span class="label label-success target-paste"></span>
</div>