| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Lysis by Plato: composure to the paralysed and disordered mind, and convert the feeble
person into a hero; (compare Symposium).
It is true that friendships are apt to be disappointing: either we expect
too much from them; or we are indolent and do not 'keep them in repair;' or
being admitted to intimacy with another, we see his faults too clearly and
lose our respect for him; and he loses his affection for us. Friendships
may be too violent; and they may be too sensitive. The egotism of one of
the parties may be too much for the other. The word of counsel or sympathy
has been uttered too obtrusively, at the wrong time, or in the wrong
manner; or the need of it has not been perceived until too late. 'Oh if he
had only told me' has been the silent thought of many a troubled soul. And
Lysis |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling: never to show up against the sky line, because, if you do, you may
get fired at. Remember that, young un. Always keep hidden as
much as possible, even if you have to go a mile out of your way.
I lead the battery when it comes to that sort of climbing."
"Fired at without the chance of running into the people who
are firing!" said the troop-horse, thinking hard. "I couldn't
stand that. I should want to charge--with Dick."
"Oh, no, you wouldn't. You know that as soon as the guns are
in position they'll do all the charging. That's scientific and
neat. But knives--pah!"
The baggage-camel had been bobbing his head to and fro for
The Jungle Book |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells: and others--like the writhing Footless Thing of which he had told me--
had come by violent ends. In answer to my question, Montgomery said
that they actually bore offspring, but that these generally died.
When they lived, Moreau took them and stamped the human form upon them.
There was no evidence of the inheritance of their acquired
human characteristics. The females were less numerous than the males,
and liable to much furtive persecution in spite of the monogamy the
Law enjoined.
<2> This description corresponds in every respect to Noble's Isle.
-- C. E. P.
It would be impossible for me to describe these Beast People in detail;
The Island of Doctor Moreau |
