| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: happy enough to have your spirit and style I would try and write a companion
volume to yours. Now I think the best thing I can do is to give you
somewhat of my experience. You say that the discovery of printing has made
the destruction of anybody's books difficult. At this I am bound to say that
the Inquisition did succeed most successfully, by burning heretical books,
in destroying numerous volumes invaluable for their wholesome contents.
Indeed, I beg to state to you the amazing fact that here in Holland exists an
Ultramontane Society called `Old Paper,'which is under the sanction of the six
Catholic Bishops of the Netherlands, and is spread over the whole kingdom.
The openly-avowed object of this Society is to buy up and to destroy
as waste paper all the Protestant and Liberal Catholic newspapers,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Divine Comedy (translated by H.F. Cary) by Dante Alighieri: Who, for my safety, hast not scorn'd, in hell
To leave the traces of thy footsteps mark'd!
For all mine eyes have seen, I, to thy power
And goodness, virtue owe and grace. Of slave,
Thou hast to freedom brought me; and no means,
For my deliverance apt, hast left untried.
Thy liberal bounty still toward me keep.
That, when my spirit, which thou madest whole,
Is loosen'd from this body, it may find
Favour with thee." So I my suit preferr'd:
And she, so distant, as appear'd, look'd down,
The Divine Comedy (translated by H.F. Cary) |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum: in her admiration of the wonderful city she had
entered.
They soon separated from the Munchkin boy, who
was led by the Soldier with the Green Whiskers
down a side street toward the prison. Ojo felt
very miserable and greatly ashamed of himself, but
he was beginning to grow angry because he was
treated in such a disgraceful manner. Instead of
entering the splendid Emerald City as a
respectable traveler who was entitled to a
welcome and to hospitality, he was being brought
The Patchwork Girl of Oz |
