| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: than to behold them peacefully reposing.
We need not fare far afield to light on marvels, if that is our
object. All about us here is full of marvel; we can begin at once by
wondering, why it is the candle gives a light by dint of its bright
flame, while side by side with it the bright bronze vessel gives no
light, but shows within itself those other objects mirrored.[1] Or,
how is it that oil, being moist and liquid, keeps that flame ablaze,
but water, just because it is liquid, quenches fire. But no more do
these same marvels tend to promote the object of the wine-cup.[2]
[1] Cf. "Mem." IV. vii. 7. Socrates' criticism of Anaxagoras' theory
with regard to the sun.
The Symposium |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: "How extraordinary! Literally nobody?"
"Nobody but a lot of dogs--a whole pack of them--who seemed to
have the place to themselves."
Madame de Lanrivain let the embroidery slip to her knee and
folded her hands on it. For several minutes she looked at me
thoughtfully.
"A pack of dogs--you SAW them?"
"Saw them? I saw nothing else!"
"How many?" She dropped her voice a little. "I've always
wondered--"
I looked at her with surprise: I had supposed the place to be
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy: the fair sex if you were to gratify their curiosity."
"Ah, Monseigneur," said Chauvelin, significantly, "rumour has
it in France that your Highness could--an you would--give the truest
account of that enigmatical wayside flower."
He looked quickly and keenly at Marguerite as he spoke; but
she betrayed no emotion, and her eyes met his quite fearlessly.
"Nay, man," replied the Prince, "my lips are sealed! and the
members of the league jealously guard the secret of their chief. . .so
his fair adorers have to be content with worshipping a shadow. Here
in England, Monsieur," he added, with wonderful charm and dignity, "we
but name the Scarlet Pimpernel, and every fair cheek is suffused with
The Scarlet Pimpernel |
