| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: savage tribesmen who overran Zodanga's broad avenues,
looting, burning, and murdering.
About us the vast circular coliseum was packed to its full
capacity. All classes were represented--all ages, and both
sexes. As we entered the hall the hum of subdued conversation
ceased until as we halted upon the platform, or Throne
of Righteousness, the silence of death enveloped the
ten thousand spectators.
The judges were seated in a great circle about the
periphery of the circular platform. We were assigned seats
with our backs toward a small platform in the exact centre
 The Gods of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Sportsman by Xenophon: somewhat sunken flanks;[53] the hips, well rounded, plump at every
part, but with a proper interval above; the long and solid thighs, on
the outside tense and not too flabby on the inside; the long, stout
lower legs or shanks; the fore-feet, exceedingly pliant, thin, and
straight; the hind-feet firm and broad; front and hind alike totally
regardless of rough ground; the hind-legs far longer than the fore,
inclined outwards somewhat; the fur[54] short and light.
[49] Reading {katophere [stenen ek tou emprosthen]}. See Lenz ad loc.
pp. 23, 24. Pollux, v. 69.
[50] Reading {[lepton, periphere]}.
[51] {sugkola}, al. "compactly knit."
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Alcibiades I by Plato: SOCRATES: Leaving the care of our bodies and of our properties to others?
ALCIBIADES: Very good.
SOCRATES: But how can we have a perfect knowledge of the things of the
soul?--For if we know them, then I suppose we shall know ourselves. Can we
really be ignorant of the excellent meaning of the Delphian inscription, of
which we were just now speaking?
ALCIBIADES: What have you in your thoughts, Socrates?
SOCRATES: I will tell you what I suspect to be the meaning and lesson of
that inscription. Let me take an illustration from sight, which I imagine
to be the only one suitable to my purpose.
ALCIBIADES: What do you mean?
|