| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Myths and Myth-Makers by John Fiske: sympathy of its ministers, gives up in despair, and returns to
drown his anxieties in his old debauchery.
But this is not the primitive form of the myth, which recurs
in the folk-lore of every people of Aryan descent. Who,
indeed, can read it without being at once reminded of Thomas
of Erceldoune (or Horsel-hill), entranced by the sorceress of
the Eilden; of the nightly visits of Numa to the grove of the
nymph Egeria; of Odysseus held captive by the Lady Kalypso;
and, last but not least, of the delightful Arabian tale of
Prince Ahmed and the Peri Banou? On his westward journey,
Odysseus is ensnared and kept in temporary bondage by the
Myths and Myth-Makers |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson: the abuse of kava. His beard (IB.) is said to be worth an
estate; for the beards of old men are the favourite head
adornment of the Marquesans, as the hair of women formed
their most costly girdle. The former, among this generally
beardless and short-lived people, fetch to-day considerable
sums.
Note 3, "TIKIS." The tiki is an ugly image hewn out of wood
or stone.
Note 4, "THE ONE-STRINGED HARP." Usually employed for
serenades.
Note 5, "THE SACRED CABIN OF PALM." Which, however, no woman
Ballads |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Poems by Bronte Sisters: Nor wait till in the exhausted cup
Life's dull dregs only lie.
Then Love thus crowned with sweet reward,
Hope blest with fulness large,
I'd mount the saddle, draw the sword,
And perish in the charge!
PREFERENCE.
Not in scorn do I reprove thee,
Not in pride thy vows I waive,
But, believe, I could not love thee,
Wert thou prince, and I a slave.
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