| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Gambara by Honore de Balzac: been swallowed up made him feel sick. He drew back a step to study the
neighborhood, and finding an ill-looking man at his elbow, he asked
him for information. The man, who held a knotted stick in his right
hand, placed the left on his hip and replied in a single word:
"Scoundrel!"
But on looking at the Italian, who stood in the light of a street-
lamp, he assumed a servile expression.
"I beg your pardon, sir," said he, suddenly changing his tone. "There
is a restaurant near this, a sort of table-d'hote, where the cooking
is pretty bad and they serve cheese in the soup. Monsieur is in search
of the place, perhaps, for it is easy to see that he is an Italian--
Gambara |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Bronte Sisters: already stood long enough to excite the wonder of the village
sight-seers, and perhaps the wrath of the attendant bridal party;
though, of course, all this passed in a much shorter time than I
have taken to relate, or even than you will take to read it. I
stood beside the carriage, and, the window being down, I saw my
happy friend fondly encircle his companion's waist with his arm,
while she rested her glowing cheek on his shoulder, looking the
very impersonation of loving, trusting bliss. In the interval
between the footman's closing the door and taking his place behind
she raised her smiling brown eyes to his face, observing,
playfully, - 'I fear you must think me very insensible, Frederick:
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Alcibiades II by Platonic Imitator: He must have been a wise poet, Alcibiades, who, seeing as I believe, his
friends foolishly praying for and doing things which would not really
profit them, offered up a common prayer in behalf of them all:--
'King Zeus, grant us good whether prayed for or unsought by us;
But that which we ask amiss, do thou avert.' (The author of these lines,
which are probably of Pythagorean origin, is unknown. They are found also
in the Anthology (Anth. Pal.).)
In my opinion, I say, the poet spoke both well and prudently; but if you
have anything to say in answer to him, speak out.
ALCIBIADES: It is difficult, Socrates, to oppose what has been well said.
And I perceive how many are the ills of which ignorance is the cause,
|
