| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: arrested; but Michu, whose coat and trousers were among the "articles
of testimony," so-called, had put on his best clothes,--a blue
surtout, a brown velvet waistcoat /a la/ Robespierre, and a white
cravat. The poor man paid the penalty of his dangerous-looking face.
When he cast a glance of his yellow eye, so clear and so profound upon
the audience, a murmur of repulsion answered it. The assembly chose to
see the finger of God bringing him to the dock where his father-in-law
had sacrificed so many victims. This man, truly great, looked at his
masters, repressing a smile of scorn. He seemed to say to them, "I am
injuring your cause." Five of the prisoners exchanged greetings with
their counsel. Gothard still played the part of an idiot.
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from McTeague by Frank Norris: pelting fire of the afternoon's sun.
But once more the spur bit into his body, goading him on.
There was to be no rest, no going back, no pause, no stop.
Hurry, hurry, hurry on. The brute that in him slept so
close to the surface was alive and alert, and tugging to be
gone. There was no resisting that instinct. The brute felt
an enemy, scented the trackers, clamored and struggled and
fought, and would not be gainsaid.
"I CAN'T go on," groaned McTeague, his eyes
sweeping the horizon behind him, "I'm beat out. I'm dog
tired. I ain't slept any for two nights." But for all that
McTeague |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: boldness to notice in me that which I do not myself wish to
behold ---- "
"What would you do, duke?"
"There are secrets which kill those who discover them."
"He, then, who has discovered your secret, madman that you
are, still lives; and, what is more, you will not slay him,
for he is armed on all sides, -- he is a husband, a jealous
man, -- he is the second gentleman in France, -- he is my
son, the Duc d'Orleans."
The duke turned pale as death. "You are very cruel, madame,"
he said.
Ten Years Later |
