| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Alkahest by Honore de Balzac: sadness or of placid content.
Thus, it is almost impossible not to feel a certain tender sensibility
over a picture of Flemish life, if the accessories are clearly given.
Why so? Perhaps, among other forms of existence, it offers the best
conclusion to man's uncertainties. It has its social festivities, its
family ties, and the easy affluence which proves the stability of its
comfortable well-being; it does not lack repose amounting almost to
beatitude; but, above all, it expresses the calm monotony of a frankly
sensuous happiness, where enjoyment stifles desire by anticipating it.
Whatever value a passionate soul may attach to the tumultuous life of
feeling, it never sees without emotion the symbols of this Flemish
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: high airs and frequent prancing makes but the slightest movement
forward--obviously the rest of the troop must follow at a walking
pace, and one may fairly ask where is the element of splendour in the
spectacle? But now suppose that you, sir, being at the head of the
procession, rouse your horse and take the lead at a pace neither too
fast nor yet too slow, but in a way to bring out the best qualities in
all the animals, their spirit, fire, grace of mien and bearing ripe
for action--I say, if you take the lead of them in this style, the
collective thud, the general neighing and the snorting of the horses
will combine to render not only you at the head, but your whole
company[10] down to the last man a thrilling spectacle.
On Horsemanship |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: wait in a Lord's household," said he. "Hast ever been in such
service?"
"Nay," said Myles, "I have only been at school, and learned Latin
and French and what not. But Diccon Bowman here hath taught me
use of arms.
The young squire laughed outright. "By'r Lady, thy talk doth
tickle me, friend Myles," said he. "Think'st thou such matters
will gain thee footing here? But stay! Thou didst say anon that
thou hadst a letter to my Lord. From whom is it?"
"It is from my father," said Myles. "He is of noble blood, but
fallen in estate. He is a kinsman of my Lord's, and one time his
Men of Iron |
