| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft: yawn the gulfs from whence my mindless masters have sent me. Some
day you too may traverse them, but if you are wise you will beware
such folly; for of those mortals who have been and returned, only
one preserves a mind unshattered by the pounding, clawing horrors
of the void. Terrors and blasphemies gnaw at one another for space,
and there is more evil in the lesser ones than in the greater;
even as you know from the deeds of those who sought to deliver
you into my hands, whilst I myself harboured no wish to shatter
you, and would indeed have helped you hither long ago had I not
been elsewhere busy,and certain that you would yourself find the
way. Shun then, the outer hells, and stick to the calm, lovely
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Firm of Nucingen by Honore de Balzac: landed estates, yet they lived, and lived well. These ingenious
condottieri of a modern industrialism, that has come to be the most
ruthless of all warfares, leave anxieties to their creditors, and keep
the pleasures for themselves. They are careful for nothing, save
dress. Still with the courage of the Jean Bart order, that will smoke
cigars on a barrel of powder (perhaps by way of keeping up their
character), with a quizzing humor that outdoes the minor newspapers,
sparing no one, not even themselves; clear-sighted, wary, keen after
business, grasping yet open handed, envious yet self-complacent,
profound politicians by fits and starts, analyzing everything,
guessing everything--not one of these in question as yet had contrived
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: especially the production of an artist like yours." Mr. Ascham
sipped his Burgundy luxuriously. "But the fact is, Mrs. Ashgrove
sent for me."
Granice raised his head with a quick movement of surprise. For a
moment he was shaken out of his self-absorption.
"MRS. ASHGROVE?"
Ascham smiled. "I thought you'd be interested; I know your
passion for causes celebres. And this promises to be one. Of
course it's out of our line entirely--we never touch criminal
cases. But she wanted to consult me as a friend. Ashgrove was a
distant connection of my wife's. And, by Jove, it IS a queer
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