| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Euthydemus by Plato: most eminent professors of their time. But the truth is, Crito, that the
study itself and the men themselves are utterly mean and ridiculous.' Now
censure of the pursuit, Socrates, whether coming from him or from others,
appears to me to be undeserved; but as to the impropriety of holding a
public discussion with such men, there, I confess that, in my opinion, he
was in the right.
SOCRATES: O Crito, they are marvellous men; but what was I going to say?
First of all let me know;--What manner of man was he who came up to you and
censured philosophy; was he an orator who himself practises in the courts,
or an instructor of orators, who makes the speeches with which they do
battle?
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln by Helen Nicolay: their advice, but to lay the subject-matter of a proclamation
before them, suggestions as to which would be in order after they
had heard it read."
It was on July 22 that the President read to his cabinet the
draft of this first emancipation proclamation, which, after
announcing that at the next meeting of Congress he would again
offer compensated emancipation to such States as chose to accept
it, went on to order as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy
of the United States, that the slaves in all States which should
be in rebellion against the government on January 1, 1863, should
"then, thenceforward and forever be free."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Talisman by Walter Scott: guests withdrew from the royal tent. A train with blazing
torches, and an escort of archers, awaited Berengaria without the
pavilion, and she was soon on her way homeward. Richard, as he
had proposed, walked beside his kinswoman, and compelled her to
accept of his arm as her support, so that they could speak to
each other without being overheard.
What answer, then, am I to return to the noble Soldan?" said
Richard. "The kings and princes are falling from me, Edith; this
new quarrel hath alienated them once more. I would do something
for the Holy Sepulchre by composition, if not by victory; and the
chance of my doing this depends, alas, on the caprice of a woman.
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