| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Merry Men by Robert Louis Stevenson: the negro had paused in surprise, perhaps in terror, some halfway
between me and the wreck; my uncle was already far away, bounding
from rock to rock; and I thus found myself torn for a time between
two duties. But I judged, and I pray Heaven that I judged rightly,
in favour of the poor wretch upon the sands; his misfortune was at
least not plainly of his own creation; it was one, besides, that I
could certainly relieve; and I had begun by that time to regard my
uncle as an incurable and dismal lunatic. I advanced accordingly
towards the black, who now awaited my approach with folded arms,
like one prepared for either destiny. As I came nearer, he reached
forth his hand with a great gesture, such as I had seen from the
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Youth by Joseph Conrad: fellowship of the craft, which no amount of enthusiasm
for yachting, cruising, and so on can give, since one is
only the amusement of life and the other is life itself.
Marlow (at least I think that is how he spelt his name)
told the story, or rather the chronicle, of a voyage:
"Yes, I have seen a little of the Eastern seas; but what
I remember best is my first voyage there. You fellows
know there are those voyages that seem ordered for the
illustration of life, that might stand for a symbol of
existence. You fight, work, sweat, nearly kill yourself,
sometimes do kill yourself, trying to accomplish some-
Youth |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: friends have for his servants."
"Ah, madam," cried Buckingham, "your royal highness pierces
my heart with a dagger forged by your own hands."
"What is the meaning of that speech, which is turned so like
a French madrigal, duke? I do not understand it."
"It means, madam, that you yourself, so good, so charming,
so sensible, you have laughed sometimes -- smiled, I should
say -- at the idle prattle of that good Parry, for whom your
royal highness to-day entertains such a marvelous
susceptibility."
"Well, my lord, if I have forgotten myself so far," said
Ten Years Later |
