| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Duchesse de Langeais by Honore de Balzac: mind to possess and not to be possessed. They have made a sort
of compromise with human nature. The code of their parish gives
them a pretty wide latitude short of the last transgression. The
sweets enjoyed by this fair Duchess of yours are so many venial
sins to be washed away in the waters of penitence. But if you
had the impertinence to ask in earnest for the moral sin to which
naturally you are sure to attach the highest importance, you
would see the deep disdain with which the door of the boudoir and
the house would be incontinently shut upon you. The tender
Antoinette would dismiss everything from her memory; you would be
less than a cipher for her. She would wipe away your kisses, my
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from King James Bible: rock of my salvation.
PSA 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of
the earth.
PSA 89:28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant
shall stand fast with him.
PSA 89:29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne
as the days of heaven.
PSA 89:30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
PSA 89:31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
PSA 89:32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their
iniquity with stripes.
King James Bible |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy: conjectures of a temperament which would have no pity for
weakness, but would be ready to yield ungrudging admiration
to greatness and strength. Its producer's personal
goodness, if he had any, would be of a very fitful cast--an
occasional almost oppressive generosity rather than a mild
and constant kindness.
Susan Henchard's husband--in law, at least--sat before them,
matured in shape, stiffened in line, exaggerated in traits;
disciplined, thought-marked--in a word, older. Elizabeth,
encumbered with no recollections as her mother was, regarded
him with nothing more than the keen curiosity and interest
The Mayor of Casterbridge |
