| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: before the evening exercises, after which the herald's cry is heard
"to take the evening meal." When they have sung a hymn to the gods to
whom the offerings of happy omen had been performed, the final order,
"Retire to rest at the place of arms,"[14] is given.
[8] Cf. Herod. vii. 208; Plut. "Lycurg." 22 (Clough, i. 113 foll.)
[9] Reading {megalophronesterous} (L. Dindorf's emendation) for the
vulg. {megaloprepesterous}. Xen "Opusc. polit." Ox. MDCCCLVI.
[10] Or, "the proud self-consciousness of their own splendour is
increased, and by comparison with others they bear more notably
the impress of freemen."
[11] The word {masso} is "poetical" (old Attic?). See "Cyrop." II. iv.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Weir of Hermiston by Robert Louis Stevenson: he now dealt in serious matters of life and death. This was a grown
woman he was approaching, endowed with her mysterious potencies and
attractions, the treasury of the continued race, and he was neither
better nor worse than the average of his sex and age. He had a certain
delicacy which had preserved him hitherto unspotted, and which (had
either of them guessed it) made him a more dangerous companion when his
heart should be really stirred. His throat was dry as he came near; but
the appealing sweetness of her smile stood between them like a guardian
angel.
For she turned to him and smiled, though without rising. There was a
shade in this cavalier greeting that neither of them perceived; neither
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: One of our order to associate me,
Here in this Citie visiting the sick,
And finding him, the Searchers of the Towne
Suspecting that we both were in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did raigne,
Seal'd vp the doores, and would not let vs forth,
So that my speed to Mantua there was staid
Law. Who bare my Letter then to Romeo?
Iohn. I could not send it, here it is againe,
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
So fearefull were they of infection
Romeo and Juliet |
