| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Some Reminiscences by Joseph Conrad: is very likely. My acquaintance with him was then very recent.
He is one of the English novelists whose works I read for the
first time in English. With men of European reputation, with
Dickens and Walter Scott and Thackeray, it was otherwise. My
first introduction to English imaginative literature was
"Nicholas Nickleby." It is extraordinary how well Mrs. Nickleby
could chatter disconnectedly in Polish and the sinister Ralph
rage in that language. As to the Crummles family and the family
of the learned Squeers it seemed as natural to them as their
native speech. It was, I have no doubt, an excellent
translation. This must have been in the year '70. But I really
Some Reminiscences |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Essays & Lectures by Oscar Wilde: called to him, and said, 'Will you give me this knowledge of God
which is more precious than purple and pearls? If you will give me
that, I will not enter the city.'
And ever did the Hermit answer, 'All things that I have I will give
thee, save that one thing only. For that thing it is not lawful
for me to give away.'
And in the twilight of the third day they came nigh to the great
scarlet gates of the City of the Seven Sins. And from the city
there came the sound of much laughter.
And the young Robber laughed in answer, and sought to knock at the
gate. And as he did so the Hermit ran forward and caught him by
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Little Rivers by Henry van Dyke: hands and knees to crawl under logs. It was breathless work, but
not at all dangerous or difficult. Every step forward was also a
step upward; and as we stopped to rest for a moment, we could see
already glimpses of the lake below us. But at these I did not much
care to look, for I think it is a pity to spoil the surprise of a
grand view by taking little snatches of it beforehand. It is
better to keep one's face set to the mountain, and then, coming out
from the dark forest upon the very summit, feel the splendour of
the outlook flash upon one like a revelation.
The character of the woods through which we were now passing was
entirely different from those of the lower levels. On these steep
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