| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: advancing it. He cannot but be conscious, besides, that the
first information will be readily received by government, and
that if the question be, which can first lodge intelligence of
the affair, we can easily save a few hours on him."
"You should say you, and not we, when you talk of priorities in
such a race of treachery; for my part, I won't enter my horse for
such a plate," said Mareschal; and added betwixit his teeth, "A
pretty pair of fellows to trust a man's neck with!"
"I am not to be intimidated from doing what I think proper," said
Sir Frederick Langley; "and my first step shall be to leave
Ellieslaw. I have no reason to keep faith with one" (looking at
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Divine Comedy (translated by H.F. Cary) by Dante Alighieri: Appearance, still new miracles descry'd,
And toil'd me with the change. In that abyss
Of radiance, clear and lofty, seem'd methought,
Three orbs of triple hue clipt in one bound:
And, from another, one reflected seem'd,
As rainbow is from rainbow: and the third
Seem'd fire, breath'd equally from both. Oh speech
How feeble and how faint art thou, to give
Conception birth! Yet this to what I saw
Is less than little. Oh eternal light!
Sole in thyself that dwellst; and of thyself
The Divine Comedy (translated by H.F. Cary) |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Tao Teh King by Lao-tze: is no crevice. I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing
(with a purpose).
2. There are few in the world who attain to the teaching without
words, and the advantage arising from non-action.
44. 1. Or fame or life,
Which do you hold more dear?
Or life or wealth,
To which would you adhere?
Keep life and lose those other things;
Keep them and lose your life:--which brings
Sorrow and pain more near?
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