| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Herodias by Gustave Flaubert: And now the graceful dancer appeared transported with the very
delirium of love and passion. She danced like the priestesses of
India, like the Nubians of the cataracts, or like the Bacchantes of
Lydia. She whirled about like a flower blown by the tempest. The
jewels in her ears sparkled, her swift movements made the colours of
her draperies appear to run into one another. Her arms, her feet, her
clothing even, seemed to emit streams of magnetism, that set the
spectators' blood on fire.
Suddenly the thrilling chords of a harp rang through the hall, and the
throng burst into loud acclamations. All eyes were fixed on Salome,
who paused in her rhythmic dance, placed her feet wide apart, and
Herodias |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Gentle Grafter by O. Henry: a farewell blowout at the University, and Andy lectured on 'Modern
Music and Prehistoric Literature of the Archipelagos.' Each one of the
faculty answered to toasts, and compared me and Andy to Rockefeller
and the Emperor Marcus Autolycus. I pounded on the table and yelled
for Professor McCorkle; but it seems he wasn't present on the
occasion. I wanted a look at the man that Andy thought could earn $100
a week in philanthropy that was on the point of making an assignment.
"The students all left on the night train; and the town sounded as
quiet as the campus of a correspondence school at midnight. When I
went to the hotel I saw a light in Andy's room, and I opened the door
and walked in.
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Of The Nature of Things by Lucretius: And seest thou not, when near the nightly lamps
Thou bringest a flaxen wick, extinguished
A moment since, it catches fire before
'Thas touched the flame, and in same wise a torch?
And many another object flashes aflame
When at a distance, touched by heat alone,
Before 'tis steeped in veritable fire.
This, then, we must suppose to come to pass
In that spring also.
Now to other things!
And I'll begin to treat by what decree
Of The Nature of Things |
