| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Unconscious Comedians by Honore de Balzac: Gazonal over from head to foot, and thinking him in no way remarkable.
Gazonal, bewildered by the toilets, the lights, the gilding, the
chatter of the various groups whom he thought to be discussing him,
could only manage to stammer out the words: "Madame--madame--is--very
good."
"What do you manufacture?" said the mistress of the house, laughing.
"Say laces and offer her some guipure," whispered Bixiou in Gazonal's
ear.
"La-ces," said Gazonal, perceiving that he would have to pay for his
supper. "It will give me the greatest pleasure to offer you a dress--a
scarf--a mantilla of my make."
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Octopus by Frank Norris: like a wide open crescent. Its wings, under the command of
lieutenants, were slightly advanced. Far out before its centre
Osterman took his place, delighted beyond expression at his
conspicuousness, posing for the gallery, making his horse dance.
"Wail, aindt dey gowun to gommence den bretty soohn," exclaimed
Mrs. Hooven, who had taken her husband's place on the forward
seat of the wagon.
"I never was so warm," murmured Minna, fanning herself with her
hat. All seemed in readiness. For miles over the flat expanse
of stubble, curved the interminable lines of horses and vehicles.
At a guess, nearly five thousand people were present. The drive
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Apology by Xenophon: sight and dulness of hearing. I shall find myself slower to learn new
lessons, and apter to forget the lessons I have learnt. And if to
these be added the consciousness of failing powers, the sting of self-
reproach, what prospect have I of any further joy in living? It may
be, you know," he added, "that God out of his great kindness is
intervening in my behalf[14] to suffer me to close my life in the
ripeness of age, and by the gentlest of deaths. For if at this time
sentence of death be passed upon me, it is plain I shall be allowed to
meet an end which, in the opinion of those who have studied the
matter, is not only the easiest in itself, but one which will cause
the least trouble to one's friends,[15] while engendering the deepest
The Apology |
