| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Ion by Plato: stone of Heraclea. This stone not only attracts iron rings, but also
imparts to them a similar power of attracting other rings; and sometimes
you may see a number of pieces of iron and rings suspended from one another
so as to form quite a long chain: and all of them derive their power of
suspension from the original stone. In like manner the Muse first of all
inspires men herself; and from these inspired persons a chain of other
persons is suspended, who take the inspiration. For all good poets, epic
as well as lyric, compose their beautiful poems not by art, but because
they are inspired and possessed. And as the Corybantian revellers when
they dance are not in their right mind, so the lyric poets are not in their
right mind when they are composing their beautiful strains: but when
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: of it as he was whetting his razor) than I do this moment of Grand Cairo;
for it was dusky in the evening when I landed, and dark as pitch in the
morning when I set out, and yet by merely knowing what is what, and by
drawing this from that in one part of the town, and by spelling and putting
this and that together in another--I would lay any travelling odds, that I
this moment write a chapter upon Calais as long as my arm; and with so
distinct and satisfactory a detail of every item, which is worth a
stranger's curiosity in the town--that you would take me for the town-clerk
of Calais itself--and where, sir, would be the wonder? was not Democritus,
who laughed ten times more than I--town-clerk of Abdera? and was not (I
forget his name) who had more discretion than us both, town-clerk of
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lady Susan by Jane Austen: dearest of friends ; may the next gouty attack be more favourable! and may
you always regard me as unalterably yours,
S. VERNON
XL
LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON
My dear Catherine,--I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent
off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of
knowing of Reginald's being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald is
returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to tell us
they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, and I have
not been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low that I have not
Lady Susan |
