| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Timaeus by Plato: reason is bright and shining and of a glistening appearance, including
pitch, the juice of the castor berry, oil itself, and other things of a
like kind: thirdly, there is the class of substances which expand the
contracted parts of the mouth, until they return to their natural state,
and by reason of this property create sweetness;--these are included under
the general name of honey: and, lastly, there is a frothy nature, which
differs from all juices, having a burning quality which dissolves the
flesh; it is called opos (a vegetable acid).
As to the kinds of earth, that which is filtered through water passes into
stone in the following manner:--The water which mixes with the earth and is
broken up in the process changes into air, and taking this form mounts into
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: Ferdinand. This reproach disturbs me not. I know my own heart; I know
with what honest zeal I am devoted to the king; I know that my allegiance
is more true than that of many who, in his service, seek only to serve
themselves. I regret that our discussion should terminate so
unsatisfactorily, and trust that in spite of our opposing views, the service
of the king, our master, and the welfare of our country, may speedily unite
us; another conference, the presence of the princes who to-day are absent,
may, perchance, in a more propitious moment, accomplish what at present
appears impossible. In this hope I take my leave.
Alva (who at the same time makes a sign to Ferdinand). Hold, Egmont!--
Your sword!-
Egmont |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Seraphita by Honore de Balzac: in a forest, without increasing or diminishing; vegetating happily,
while wringing their means of living from the breast of a stern
Nature. The almost unknown existence of the little hamlet is readily
accounted for. Few of its inhabitants were bold enough to risk their
lives among the reefs to reach the deep-sea fishing,--the staple
industry of Norwegians on the least dangerous portions of their coast.
The fish of the fiord were numerous enough to suffice, in part at
least, for the sustenance of the inhabitants; the valley pastures
provided milk and butter; a certain amount of fruitful, well-tilled
soil yielded rye and hemp and vegetables, which necessity taught the
people to protect against the severity of the cold and the fleeting
Seraphita |
