| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Elixir of Life by Honore de Balzac: laughter-loving women were interchanging sweet talk. The white
marble of the noble works of art about them stood out against the
red stucco walls, and made strong contrasts with the rich Turkey
carpets. Clad in satin, glittering with gold, and covered with
gems less brilliant than their eyes, each told a tale of
energetic passions as diverse as their styles of beauty. They
differed neither in their ideas nor in their language; but the
expression of their eyes, their glances, occasional gestures, or
the tones of their voices supplied a commentary, dissolute,
wanton, melancholy, or satirical, to their words.
One seemed to be saying--"The frozen heart of age might kindle at
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: thy hands? Whereas we should the rather feel grateful to thee
for removing us from life in the close adherence to virtue. For
we dread, not a little, the uncertainty of the end, knowing not
in what state death shall overtake us, lest perchance a slip of
the inclination, or some despiteful dealing of the devil, may
alter the constancy of our choice, and mis-persuade us to think
or do contrary to our covenants with God. Wherefore abandon all
hope of gaining the knowledge that ye desire, and shrink not to
work your will. We shall neither reveal the dwelling-place of
our brother, whom God loveth, although we know it, nor shall we
betray any other monasteries unbeknown to ye. We will not endure
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs: of his shack Sing Lee drew back to watch, for he knew
that behind them some one was driving these horribly
grotesque creatures from their prison.
One by one they came lumbering into the moonlight until
Sing had counted eleven, and then, after them, came a
white man, bull whip and revolver in hand. It was von
Horn. The equatorial moon shone full upon him--there
could be no mistake. The Chinaman saw him turn and
lock the workshop door; saw him cross the campong to
the outer gate; saw him pass through toward the jungle,
closing the gate.
The Monster Men |
