| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Agesilaus by Xenophon: dwelling-place he was contented; let him view the palace doors: these
are the selfsame doors, he might well imagine, which Aristodemus,[6]
the great-great-grandson of Heracles, took and set up in the days of
the return. Let him endeavour to view the furniture inside; there he
will perceive how the king feasted on high holy days; and he will hear
how the king's own daughter was wont to drive to Amyclae in a public
basket-carriage.[7] Thus it was that by the adjustment of expenditure
to income he was never driven to the commission of any unjust deed for
money's sake. And yet if it be a fine thing to hold a fortress
impregnable to attck, I count it a greater glory that a man should
hold the fortress of his soul inviolable against the assaults of
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Poems of Goethe, Bowring, Tr. by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: For this hand to hold the reins has long been accustom'd,
And these eyes are train'd to turn the corner with prudence.
For we were wont to drive the carriage, when living at Strasburg,
At the time when with the young baron I went there, for daily,
Driven by me, through the echoing gateway thunder'd the carriage
By the dusty roads to distant meadows and lindens,
Through the crowds of the people who spend their lifetime in walking."
Partially comforted, then his neighbour mounted the carriage,
Sitting like one prepared to make a wise jump, if needs be,
And the stallions, eager to reach their stables, coursed homewards,
While beneath their powerful hoofs the dust rose in thick clouds.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: the muzzle of the weapon almost touched Barney's face. In
that the fellow made his mistake.
"You see," said Barney unexcitedly, "that I was right
about the brigands after all. What do you want, my man?"
The man's eyes had suddenly gone wide. He stared with
open mouth at the young fellow before him. Then a cunning
look came into his eyes.
"I want you, your majesty," he said.
"Godfrey!" exclaimed Barney. "Did the whole bunch es-
cape?"
"Quick!" growled the man. "Hold up your hands. The
The Mad King |
