| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Barney, seizing the king by the arm, started on a run for
the gateway. In his wake came Butzow with a drawn sword
beating back Stein, who was armed with a cavalry saber,
and Maenck who had now drawn his own sword.
The American saw that the two were pressing Butzow
much too closely for safety and that Coblich had now re-
covered from the effects of the blow and was in pursuit,
drawing his saber as he ran. Barney thrust the king behind
him and turned to face the enemy, at Butzow's side.
The three men rushed upon the two who stood between
them and their prey. The moonlight was now full in the
The Mad King |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad: My double down there in my cabin must have heard, and certainly
could not feel more relieved than I. Four fellows came running
out from somewhere forward and went over the side, while my
own men, appearing on deck too, lined the rail. I escorted
my visitor to the gangway ceremoniously, and nearly overdid it.
He was a tenacious beast. On the very ladder he lingered,
and in that unique, guiltily conscientious manner of sticking
to the point:
"I say . . . you . . . you don't think that--"
I covered his voice loudly:
"Certainly not. . . . I am delighted. Good-by."
The Secret Sharer |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Georgics by Virgil: Nay, scarce the up-stabbing knife with blood was stained,
Scarce sullied with thin gore the surface-sand.
Hence die the calves in many a pasture fair,
Or at full cribs their lives' sweet breath resign;
Hence on the fawning dog comes madness, hence
Racks the sick swine a gasping cough that chokes
With swelling at the jaws: the conquering steed,
Uncrowned of effort and heedless of the sward,
Faints, turns him from the springs, and paws the earth
With ceaseless hoof: low droop his ears, wherefrom
Bursts fitful sweat, a sweat that waxes cold
Georgics |
