| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Phaedo by Plato: which is like her, and to be freed from human ills. Never fear, Simmias
and Cebes, that a soul which has been thus nurtured and has had these
pursuits, will at her departure from the body be scattered and blown away
by the winds and be nowhere and nothing.
When Socrates had done speaking, for a considerable time there was silence;
he himself appeared to be meditating, as most of us were, on what had been
said; only Cebes and Simmias spoke a few words to one another. And
Socrates observing them asked what they thought of the argument, and
whether there was anything wanting? For, said he, there are many points
still open to suspicion and attack, if any one were disposed to sift the
matter thoroughly. Should you be considering some other matter I say no
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Heroes by Charles Kingsley: him Damastes. Flee from him: yet whither will you flee?
The cliffs are steep, and who can climb them? and there is no
other road.'
But Theseus laid his hand upon the old man's month, and said,
'There is no need to flee;' and he turned to go down the
pass.
'Do not tell him that I have warned you, or he will kill me
by some evil death;' and the old man screamed after him down
the glen; but Theseus strode on in his wrath.
And he said to himself, 'This is an ill-ruled land; when
shall I have done ridding it of monsters?' And as he spoke,
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Dark Lady of the Sonnets by George Bernard Shaw: THE LADY. _[echoing him]_ Mary! Mary! Who would have thought that
woman to have had so much blood in her! Is it my fault that my
counsellors put deeds of blood on me? Fie! If you were women you
would have more wit than to stain the floor so foully. Hold not up
her head so: the hair is false. I tell you yet again, Mary's buried:
she cannot come out of her grave. I fear her not: these cats that
dare jump into thrones though they be fit only for men's laps must be
put away. Whats done cannot be undone. Out, I say. Fie! a queen,
and freckled!
THE MAN. _[shaking her arm]_ Mary, I say: art asleep?
_The Lady wakes; starts; and nearly faints. He catches her on his
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