| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: "What is it?"
"You see how it is, my dear; the best and holiest right of kings
is the right of mercy. And I have always felt myself a king,
since I have made unlimited use of that right. I have never
judged, I have been indulgent, I have readily forgiven every one,
right and left. Where others have protested and expressed
indignation, I have only advised and persuaded. All my life it
has been my endeavour that my society should not be a burden to
my family, to my students, to my colleagues, to my servants. And
I know that this attitude to people has had a good influence on
all who have chanced to c ome into contact with me. But now I am
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Pierrette by Honore de Balzac: fragrance of our historical glory and that of our roses,--and a sub-
prefecture!"
"Ah! what mightn't France be if she had only preserved her feudal
capitals!" said Desfondrilles. "Can sub-prefects replace the poetic,
gallant, warlike race of the Thibaults who made Provins what Ferrara
was to Italy, Weimar to Germany,--what Munich is trying to be to-day."
"Was Provins ever a capital?" asked Rogron.
"Why! where do you come from?" exclaimed the archaeologist. "Don't you
know," he added, striking the ground of the Upper town where they
stood with his cane, "don't you know that the whole of this part of
Provins is built on catacombs?"
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: reclined on couches in the usual fashion." See Schneider's note.
[21] Passage imitated by Max. Tyr. "Or." xxiv. 4.
[22] Cf. Plat. "Charm." 154.
It seems the look betokening divine possession, no matter who the god,
must ever be remarkable. Only, whilst the subject of each commoner
emotion passion-whirled may be distinguished by flashings of the eye,
by terror-striking tones of voice, and by the vehement fervour of the
man's whole being, so he who is inspired by temperate and harmonious
love[23] will wear a look of kindlier welcome in his eyes; the words
he utters fall from his lips with softer intonation; and every gesture
of his bodily frame conform to what is truly frank and liberal. Such,
The Symposium |
