| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Lock and Key Library by Julian Hawthorne, Ed.: words on the border of the painting,--Jno. Melmoth, anno 1646.
John was neither timid by nature, nor nervous by constitution, nor
superstitious from habit, yet he continued to gaze in stupid horror
on this singular picture, till, aroused by his uncle's cough, he
hurried into his room. The old man swallowed the wine. He
appeared a little revived; it was long since he had tasted such a
cordial,--his heart appeared to expand to a momentary confidence.
"John, what did you see in that room?" "Nothing, Sir." "That's a
lie; everyone wants to cheat or to rob me." "Sir, I don't want to
do either." "Well, what did you see that you--you took notice of?"
"Only a picture, Sir." "A picture, Sir!--the original is still
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: beside it; and all night the stars would have looked at their faces in it;
and down the long sunny slopes the sun would have played on it by day; and
the wood dove would have built her nest in the trees beside it; and
singing, singing, always singing, it would have made its way at last to the
great sea, whose far-off call all waters hear.
"'But it hesitated.--It might have been, that, had but some hand been there
to move but one stone from its path, it would have forced its way past
rocks and ridges, and found its way to the great sea--it might have been!
But no hand was there. The streamlet gathered itself together, and (it
might be, that it was even in its haste to rush onwards to the sea!)--it
made one leap into the abyss.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Richard III by William Shakespeare: I have sent for these strawberries.
HASTINGS. His Grace looks cheerfully and smooth this
morning;
There's some conceit or other likes him well
When that he bids good morrow with such spirit.
I think there's never a man in Christendom
Can lesser hide his love or hate than he;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
DERBY. What of his heart perceive you in his face
By any livelihood he show'd to-day?
HASTINGS. Marry, that with no man here he is offended;
Richard III |
