| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: faith still. Surely my--my churchmen think of my soul? If I lose
my trust in them--"
"Child, be still!" said Lassiter, with a dark dignity that had in
it something of pity. "You are a woman, fine en' big an' strong,
an' your heart matches your size. But in mind you're a child.
I'll say a little more--then I'm done. I'll never mention this
again. Among many thousands of women you're one who has bucked
against your churchmen. They tried you out, an' failed of
persuasion, an' finally of threats. You meet now the cold steel
of a will as far from Christlike as the universe is wide. You're
to be broken. Your body's to be held, given to some man, made, if
Riders of the Purple Sage |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Tales of Unrest by Joseph Conrad: gleam of scabbards, gold rings, charms, armlets, lance blades, and
jewelled handles of their weapons. They had an independent bearing,
resolute eyes, a restrained manner; and we seem yet to hear their
soft voices speaking of battles, travels, and escapes; boasting with
composure, joking quietly; sometimes in well-bred murmurs extolling
their own valour, our generosity; or celebrating with loyal
enthusiasm the virtues of their ruler. We remember the faces, the
eyes, the voices, we see again the gleam of silk and metal; the
murmuring stir of that crowd, brilliant, festive, and martial; and we
seem to feel the touch of friendly brown hands that, after one short
grasp, return to rest on a chased hilt. They were Karain's people--a
Tales of Unrest |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates by Howard Pyle: unexpectedly in the unfortunate manner above narrated, he was
chosen unanimously as the captain of the fleet, and he was a
worthy pupil of a worthy master. Many were the poor fluttering
merchant ducks that this sea hawk swooped upon and struck; and
cleanly and cleverly were they plucked before his savage clutch
loosened its hold upon them.
"He made a gallant figure," says the old narrator, "being dressed
in a rich crimson waistcoat and breeches and red feather in his
hat, a gold chain around his neck, with a diamond cross hanging
to it, a sword in his hand, and two pair of pistols hanging at
the end of a silk sling flung over his shoulders according to the
Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates |
