| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Apology by Xenophon: all-fours." Plat. "Symp." 186 B, {to nasoun omologoumenos eteron
te kai anomoion esti}, "ut inter omnes convenit."
And when he perceived those who followed by his side in tears, "What
is this?" he asked. "Why do you weep now?[51] Do you not know that for
many a long day, ever since I was born, sentence of death was passed
upon me by nature? If so be I perish prematurely while the tide of
life's blessings flows free and fast, certainly I and my well-wishers
should feel pained; but if it be that I am bringing my life to a close
on the eve of troubles, for my part I think you ought all of you to
take heart of grace and rejoice in my good fortune."
[51] "Why precisely now?"
The Apology |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Art of Writing by Robert Louis Stevenson: and, I may add, of blank verse in particular.
4. CONTENTS OF THE PHRASE. - Here is a great deal of talk
about rhythm - and naturally; for in our canorous language
rhythm is always at the door. But it must not be forgotten
that in some languages this element is almost, if not quite,
extinct, and that in our own it is probably decaying. The
even speech of many educated Americans sounds the note of
danger. I should see it go with something as bitter as
despair, but I should not be desperate. As in verse no
element, not even rhythm, is necessary, so, in prose also,
other sorts of beauty will arise and take the place and play
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: discussed the fact that we two were no longer lovers; never
before had we faced that. It seems a strange thing to write, but
as I look back, I see clearly that those several days were the
time when Marion and I were closest together, looked for the
first and last time faithfully and steadfastly into each other's
soul. For those days only, there were no pretences, I made no
concessions to her nor she to me; we concealed nothing,
exaggerated nothing. We had done with pretending. We had it out
plainly and soberly with each other. Mood followed mood and got
its stark expression.
Of course there was quarreling between us, bitter quarreling, and
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