| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: trumpet the affair as soon as the papers are signed."
"Who is the object of all this preparation?"
"Oh! a /star/,--destined, they say, to European success; an Italian,
discovered by a Swedish nobleman, Comte Halphertius, through the
medium of Madame de Saint-Esteve. The illustrious manager of the
London opera-house is negotiating this treaty in order that she shall
make her first appearance at his theatre."
"Well, adieu, my dear fellow; a pleasant dinner," said Maxime,
preparing to depart. "If your star shines in London, it will probably
appear in our firmament next winter. As for me, I must go and attend
to the sunrise in Arcis. By the bye, where does Massol live?"
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare: And in thy shady cell, where none may spy him,
Sits Sin, to seize the souls that wander by him.
'Thou mak'st the vestal violate her oath;
Thou blow'st the fire when temperance is thaw'd;
Thou smother'st honesty, thou murther'st troth;
Thou foul abettor! thou notorious bawd!
Thou plantest scandal and displacest laud:
Thou ravisher, thou traitor, thou false thief,
Thy honey turns to gall, thy joy to grief!
'Thy secret pleasure turns to open shame,
Thy private feasting to a public fast;
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: coming her friend's friend to the hospitality of her fath-
er's castle.
"Are all your old friends and neighbors come after
you to Essex," cried Joan de Tany, laughingly, address-
ing Mary. "Today it is Roger de Conde, yesterday it
was the Outlaw of Torn. Methinks Derby will soon be
depopulated unless you return quickly to your home."
"I rather think it be for news of another that we owe
this visit from Roger de Conde," said Mary, smiling.
"For I have heard tales, and I see a great ring upon
the gentleman's hand--a ring which I have seen before."
The Outlaw of Torn |
