| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Silas Marner by George Eliot: had been more engrossed than usual in "setting up" a new piece of
work, an occasion on which his scissors were in requisition. These
scissors, owing to an especial warning of Dolly's, had been kept
carefully out of Eppie's reach; but the click of them had had a
peculiar attraction for her ear, and watching the results of that
click, she had derived the philosophic lesson that the same cause
would produce the same effect. Silas had seated himself in his
loom, and the noise of weaving had begun; but he had left his
scissors on a ledge which Eppie's arm was long enough to reach; and
now, like a small mouse, watching her opportunity, she stole quietly
from her corner, secured the scissors, and toddled to the bed again,
Silas Marner |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Adieu by Honore de Balzac: from the trees and lay rotting on the ground; a cow was feeding on the
lawn and treading down the flowers in the borders, while a goat
browsed on the shoots of the vines and munched the unripe grapes.
"Here all is harmony; the devastation seems organized," said the
colonel, pulling the chain of a bell; but the bell was without a
clapper.
The huntsmen heard nothing but the curiously sharp noise of a rusty
spring. Though very dilapidated, a little door made in the wall beside
the iron gates resisted all their efforts to open it.
"Well, well, this is getting to be exciting," said de Sucy to his
companion.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: "Then, since thou sayest so," said Robin, "not a penny will I touch.
Many a false churl comes hither, and disburses against his will:
and till there is lack of these, I prey not on true men."
"Thou art thyself a true man, right well I judge, Robin,"
said the stranger knight, "and seemest more like one bred
in court than to thy present outlaw life."
"Our life," said the friar, "is a craft, an art, and a mystery.
How much of it, think you, could be learned at court?"
"Indeed, I cannot say," said the stranger knight:
"but I should apprehend very little."
"And so should I," said the friar: "for we should find very little of our
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