| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson: without expression; and he could draw at full length the
portrait of his own bedevilled soul, and of the bleak and
blackguardly world which was the theatre of his exploits and
sufferings. If the reader can conceive something between the
slap-dash inconsequence of Byron's DON JUAN and the racy
humorous gravity and brief noble touches that distinguish the
vernacular poems of Burns, he will have formed some idea of
Villon's style. To the latter writer - except in the
ballades, which are quite his own, and can be paralleled from
no other language known to me - he bears a particular
resemblance. In common with Burns he has a certain rugged
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic: said Katy, who did not clearly comprehend Simon's wishes.
"Well, I think I will not go myself," replied Simon.
"Why not?"
"I do not like to place myself in a humiliating posture before
great men. If I were mayor of Boston, I should like to do him the
favor which I ask for myself. When I am--"
"You haven't asked him, Master Simon."
"In a word, Katy, I want you to ask him for me. You will do me a
great favor."
"I will," replied Katy, promptly.
"The mayor is a very fine man, kind-hearted, and willing to help
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: Descended from the Duke of Clarence' house,
And calls your grace usurper openly,
And vows to crown himself in Westminster.
His army is a ragged multitude
Of hinds and peasants, rude and merciless;
Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother's death
Hath given them heart and courage to proceed.
All scholars, lawyers, courtiers, gentlemen,
They call false caterpillars, and intend their death.
KING.
O graceless men! they know not what they do.
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