| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: the dark sea like a wolf's eyes from a cavern. They looked
nearer and brighter than in ordinary nights, and appeared to
the excited senses of the young men to dance strangely on the
waves, and to be always opposite to them, as they moved along
the shore with the wind almost at their backs.
"What did that old fellow mean?" said Malbone in Harry's ear,
as they came to a protected place and could hear each other,
"by talking of Brenton's Reef coming to Price's Neck."
"Some sailor's doggerel," said Harry, indifferently. "Here is
Price's Neck before us, and yonder is Brenton's Reef."
"Where?" said Philip, looking round bewildered.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: time upon their plantations; for though it is true they had driven
away their cattle, and the Indians did not find out their main
retreat, I mean my old castle at the hill, nor the cave in the
valley, yet they found out my plantation at the bower, and pulled
it all to pieces, and all the fences and planting about it; trod
all the corn under foot, tore up the vines and grapes, being just
then almost ripe, and did our men inestimable damage, though to
themselves not one farthing's worth of service.
Though our men were able to fight them upon all occasions, yet they
were in no condition to pursue them, or hunt them up and down; for
as they were too nimble of foot for our people when they found them
Robinson Crusoe |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli: coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws
on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not
readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of
them. Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the
opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others
defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along
with them.
It is necessary, therefore, if we desire to discuss this matter
thoroughly, to inquire whether these innovators can rely on themselves
or have to depend on others: that is to say, whether, to consummate
their enterprise, have they to use prayers or can they use force? In
The Prince |
