| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: and consequently preferred her husband's. Mr. Darcy took her
place by her niece, and they walked on together. After a short
silence, the lady first spoke. She wished him to know that she
had been assured of his absence before she came to the place,
and accordingly began by observing, that his arrival had been
very unexpected-- "for your housekeeper," she added,
"informed us that you would certainly not be here till
to-morrow; and indeed, before we left Bakewell, we
understood that you were not immediately expected in the
country." He acknowledged the truth of it all, and said that
business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a
Pride and Prejudice |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Laches by Plato: to fight, and wisely calculates and knows that others will help him, and
that there will be fewer and inferior men against him than there are with
him; and suppose that he has also advantages of position; would you say of
such a one who endures with all this wisdom and preparation, that he, or
some man in the opposing army who is in the opposite circumstances to these
and yet endures and remains at his post, is the braver?
LACHES: I should say that the latter, Socrates, was the braver.
SOCRATES: But, surely, this is a foolish endurance in comparison with the
other?
LACHES: That is true.
SOCRATES: Then you would say that he who in an engagement of cavalry
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Flame and Shadow by Sara Teasdale: But when have I been sure as now
That no bitterness can bend
And no sorrow wholly bow
One who loves you to the end?
And though I must give my breath
And my laughter all to death,
And my eyes through which joy came,
And my heart, a wavering flame;
If all must leave me and go back
Along a blind and fearful track
So that you can make anew,
|
