| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Alkahest by Honore de Balzac: "Blessed are the imperfect, for theirs is the kingdom of Love." If
this be so, surely beauty is a misfortune; that fugitive flower counts
for too much in the feeling that a woman inspires; often she is loved
for her beauty as another is married for her money. But the love
inspired or bestowed by a woman disinherited of the frail advantages
pursued by the sons of Adam, is true love, the mysterious passion, the
ardent embrace of souls, a sentiment for which the day of
disenchantment never comes. That woman has charms unknown to the
world, from whose jurisdiction she withdraws herself: she is beautiful
with a meaning; her glory lies in making her imperfections forgotten,
and thus she constantly succeeds in doing so.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Exiles by Honore de Balzac: the rich lady's interest in the young Godefroid, a poor orphan who had
come from Flanders to study at the University of Paris. She hastily
put her hand into one of her pockets, pulled out four livres of
Tournay in large silver coinage, and looked at the pieces with an
expression of avarice mingled with terror.
"That, at any rate, is not false coin," said she, showing the silver
to her husband. "Besides," she went on, "how can I turn them out after
taking next year's rent paid in advance?"
"You had better inquire of the Dean of the Chapter," replied
Tirechair. "Is not it his business to tell us how we should deal with
these extraordinary persons?"
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Desert Gold by Zane Grey: first glance apparently deserted. In a moment, however, Gale made
out a slow-pacing dark form on the path. Farther down there was
another. No particular keenness was required to see in these forms
a sentinel-like stealthiness.
Gripping Gale's arm, Thorne pulled back from the window.
"You saw them," he whispered. "It's just as I feared. Rojas has
the place surrounded. I should have taken Mercedes away. But I had
no time--no chance! I'm bound!...There's Mercedes now! My God!...Dick,
think--think if there's a way to get her out of this trap!"
Gale turned as his friend went down the room. In the dim light at
the head of the stairs stood the slim, muffled figure of a woman.
Desert Gold |
