| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Commission in Lunacy by Honore de Balzac: where, in default of vegetation under the shade of two trees, papers
collect, old rags, potsherds, bits of mortar fallen from the roof; a
barren ground, where time has shed on the walls, and on the trunks and
branches of the trees, a powdery deposit like cold soot. The two parts
of the house, set at a right angle, derive light from this garden-
court shut in by two adjoining houses built on wooden piers, decrepit
and ready to fall, where on each floor some grotesque evidence is to
be seen of the craft pursued by some lodger within. Here long poles
are hung with immense skeins of dyed worsted put out to dry; there, on
ropes, dance clean-washed shirts; higher up, on a shelf, volumes
display their freshly marbled edges; women sing, husbands whistle,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: "Then," said Robin to the stranger, "if want of money be the cause
of your melancholy, speak. Little John is my treasurer,
and he shall disburse to you."
"It is, and it is not," said the stranger; "it is, because, had I not wanted
money I had never lost my love; it is not, because, now that I have lost her,
money would come too late to regain her."
"In what way have you lost her?" said Robin: "let us clearly
know that she is past regaining, before we give up our wishes
to restore her to you."
"She is to be married this day," said the stranger, "and perhaps is married
by this, to a rich old knight; and yesterday I knew it not."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Bucolics by Virgil: Have I set lip to them, but lay them by.
Matched with a heifer, who would prate of cups?
MENALCAS
You shall not balk me now; where'er you bid,
I shall be with you; only let us have
For auditor- or see, to serve our turn,
Yonder Palaemon comes! In singing-bouts
I'll see you play the challenger no more.
DAMOETAS
Out then with what you have; I shall not shrink,
Nor budge for any man: only do you,
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