| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: there could be no good event for him, or thee, or me, who are
here wandering together in this gloomy maze of evil, and
stumbling at every step over the guilt wherewith we have strewn
our path. It is not so! There might be good for thee, and thee
alone, since thou hast been deeply wronged and hast it at thy
will to pardon. Wilt thou give up that only privilege? Wilt
thou reject that priceless benefit?"
"Peace, Hester--peace!" replied the old man, with gloomy
sternness -- "it is not granted me to pardon. I have no such
power as thou tellest me of. My old faith, long forgotten, comes
The Scarlet Letter |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Duchesse de Langeais by Honore de Balzac: object of general curiosity, better deserved attention than any
of the idols that Paris needs must set up to worship for a brief
space, for the city is vexed by periodical fits of craving, a
passion for engouement and sham enthusiasm, which must be
satisfied. The Marquis was the only son of General de
Montriveau, one of the ci-devants who served the Republic nobly,
and fell by Joubert's side at Novi. Bonaparte had placed his son
at the school at Chalons, with the orphans of other generals who
fell on the battlefield, leaving their children under the
protection of the Republic. Armand de Montriveau left school
with his way to make, entered the artillery, and had only reached
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: interest serious minds are debated; but the most eager interest,
namely politics, takes the lead in our discussions. In this little
club the prevailing opinion is democratic; it is represented under all
its aspects, the phalansterian Utopia not excepted. That's enough to
tell you that before this tribunal the ways of the government are
often judged with severity, and that the utmost liberty of language
reigns in our discussions. The consequence is that about a year ago
the waiter who serves us habitually took me aside one day to give me,
as he said, a timely warning.
"Monsieur," he said, "you are watched by the police; and you would do
well not to talk like Saint Paul, open-mouthed."
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