| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Charmides and Other Poems by Oscar Wilde: The mimic soldiers strut and stride,
Sometimes the blue-eyed brigands hide
In the bleak tangles of the bosk.
And sometimes, while the old nurse cons
Her book, they steal across the square,
And launch their paper navies where
Huge Triton writhes in greenish bronze.
And now in mimic flight they flee,
And now they rush, a boisterous band -
And, tiny hand on tiny hand,
Climb up the black and leafless tree.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: was gone down the companionway. Bohm followed her with a less agitated
speed, and soon all were gone below, leaving John and me alone on the
deck, sitting together in silence.
John lolled back in his chair, slowly sipping at his tall glass, and
neither of us made any remark. I think he wanted to ask me how I came to
mention the Duke of Clarence; but I did not see how he very well could,
and he certainly made no attempt to do so. Thus did we sit for some time,
hearing the piano and the company grow livelier and louder with solos,
and choruses, and laughter. By and by the shadow of the awning shifted,
causing me to look up, when I saw the shores slowly changing; the tide
had turned, and was beginning to run out. Land and water lay in immense
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Republic by Plato: they learn, should be suited to their tender years: during this period
while they are growing up towards manhood, the chief and special care
should be given to their bodies that they may have them to use in the
service of philosophy; as life advances and the intellect begins to mature,
let them increase the gymnastics of the soul; but when the strength of our
citizens fails and is past civil and military duties, then let them range
at will and engage in no serious labour, as we intend them to live happily
here, and to crown this life with a similar happiness in another.
How truly in earnest you are, Socrates! he said; I am sure of that; and yet
most of your hearers, if I am not mistaken, are likely to be still more
earnest in their opposition to you, and will never be convinced;
The Republic |
