| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: genuine,[94] not of mere repute. A false renown indeed is quickly seen
for what it is worth, being tested; but true courage[95] (save only
what some god hinder) perpetually amidst the storm and stress of
circumstance[96] pours forth a brighter glory.
[94] See "Mem." I. vii. 1, passim; II. vi. 39; "Econ." x. 9.
[95] Cf. Thuc. ii. 42, {andragathia}, "true courage in the public
service covers a multitude of private shortcomings."
[96] {en tais praxesi}. Cf. Plat. "Phaedr." 271 D, "in actual life."
IX
On such a note he ended his discourse.
At that, Autolycus, whose hour for walking exercise had now come,
The Symposium |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Ursula by Honore de Balzac: they still wore paniers under their petticoats or felt them there, as
persons who have lost a leg are said to fancy that the foot is moving.
They swathe their heads in old lace which declines to drape gracefully
about their cheeks. Their wan and elongated faces, their haggard eyes
and faded brows, are not without a certain melancholy grace, in spite
of the false fronts with flattened curls to which they cling,--and yet
these ruins are all subordinate to an unspeakable dignity of look and
manner.
The red and wrinkled eyes of this old lady showed plainly that she had
been crying during the service. She walked like a person in trouble,
seemed to be expecting some one, and looked behind her from time to
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Figure in the Carpet by Henry James: had not been given to the "right person," as she said, to break.
The hour however finally arrived. One evening when I had been
sitting with her longer than usual I laid my hand firmly on her
arm. "Now at last what IS it?"
She had been expecting me and was ready. She gave a long slow
soundless headshake, merciful only in being inarticulate. This
mercy didn't prevent its hurling at me the largest finest coldest
"Never!" I had yet, in the course of a life that had known denials,
had to take full in the face. I took it and was aware that with
the hard blow the tears had come into my eyes. So for a while we
sat and looked at each other; after which I slowly rose, I was
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