| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, etc. by Oscar Wilde: never be able to keep awake during dinner. Good-bye, Arthur, give
my love to Sybil, and thank you so much for the American medicine.'
'You won't forget to take it, Lady Clem, will you?' said Lord
Arthur, rising from his seat.
'Of course I won't, you silly boy. I think it is most kind of you
to think of me, and I shall write and tell you if I want any more.'
Lord Arthur left the house in high spirits, and with a feeling of
immense relief.
That night he had an interview with Sybil Merton. He told her how
he had been suddenly placed in a position of terrible difficulty,
from which neither honour nor duty would allow him to recede. He
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Agesilaus by Xenophon: indelible marks of the fury with which he fought;[1] so that, apart
from hearsay, by the evidence of men's eyes his valour stood approved.
[1] Or, "visible signs of the spirit," etc. See Plut. "Ages." xxxvi.
And amongst these we must not deem them trophies alone which he
actually set up, but reckon the many campaigns which he undertook,
since they were victories truly, even when the enemy refused to
encounter him, victories devoid of danger, yet fraught with even more
solid advantage to the state of Sparta and her fellow-combatants; just
as in our games we crown as victor him who walks over the field[2] no
less than him who conquers by dint of battle.
[2] Or, "without striking a blow." Lit. "without the dust of the
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: "You know something," the latter said brusquely. The all-knowing
man moved his head slightly and said, "Yes. But go on."
"It's just this. There is no more to it. I found myself talking
to her of my adventures, of my early days. It couldn't possibly
have interested her. Really," he cried, "this is most
extraordinary. Those people have something on their minds. We sat
in the light of the window, and her father prowled about the
terrace, with his hands behind his back and his head drooping. The
white-haired lady came to the dining-room window twice - to look at
us I am certain. The other guests began to go away - and still we
sat there. Apparently these people are staying with the Dunsters.
Within the Tides |
