| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Lily of the Valley by Honore de Balzac: Diard, whose history at Bordeaux I have told you; to Madame de
Beauseant, an Ajuda; to Madame d'Aiglemont, her husband; to the
Marquis d'Espard, his wife! Long have I sought the meaning of this
enigma. I have ransacked many mysteries, I have discovered the reason
of many natural laws, the purport of some divine hieroglyphics; of the
meaning of this dark secret I know nothing. I study it as I would the
form of an Indian weapon, the symbolic construction of which is known
only to the Brahmans. In this dread mystery the spirit of Evil is too
visibly the master; I dare not lay the blame to God. Anguish
irremediable, what power finds amusement in weaving you? Can Henriette
and her mysterious philosopher be right? Does their mysticism contain
The Lily of the Valley |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Under the Andes by Rex Stout: Harry's spirits were high, for no apparent reason other than
that we were still alive, for that was the best that could be said
for us. So I told him; he retorted with a hearty clap on the back
that sent me sprawling to the ground.
"What the deuce!" he exclaimed, stooping to help me up. "Are
you as weak as that? Gad, I'm sorry!"
"That is the second fall he has had," said Desiree, with a
meaning smile.
Indeed, she was having her revenge!
But my strength was not long in returning. Over a long
stretch our diet would hardly have been conducive to health, but it
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Plutarch's Lives by A. H. Clough: inscriptions, having Catulus's name cut in the wood. Nevertheless,
the whole glory of the action was ascribed to Marius, on account of
his former victory, and under color of his present authority; the
populace more especially styling him the third founder of their city,
as having diverted a danger no less threatening than was that when
the Gauls sacked Rome; and every one, in their feasts and rejoicings
at home with their wives and children, made offerings and libations
in honor of "The Gods and Marius;" and would have had him solely have
the honor of both the triumphs. However, he did not do so, but
triumphed together with Catulus, being desirous to show his
moderation even in such great circumstances of good fortune, besides,
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