| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Lily of the Valley by Honore de Balzac: indeed I am guilty."
"You, YOU," she said, "always YOUR SELF!"
The tones of her voice revealed the determined hatred of a Corsican,
implacable as the judgments of those who, not having studied life,
admit of no extenuation of faults committed against the laws of the
heart.
An hour went by in deepest silence. The Abbe Birotteau came to us
after receiving the countess's general confession, and we followed him
back to the room where Henriette, under one of those impulses which
often come to noble minds, all sisters of one intent, had made them
dress her in the long white garment which was to be her shroud. We
The Lily of the Valley |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: secure their friendship?
[76] Lit. "Nay, nought of the things you tell us is incredible,
but . . ."
Truly it is not a ruinous service, Socrates (he answered)--far from
it. I give them thanks, which is not costly. I make return to them of
all they give to me from time to time. I speak well of them, with all
the strength I have. And whenever I take their sacred names to
witness, I do not wittingly falsify my word.
Then God be praised (said Socrates), if being what you are, you have
such friends; the gods themselves, it would appear, delight in
nobleness of soul.[77]
The Symposium |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: capital engaged with him in the affair of this newspaper; and it would
be impossible to go back on our promise, even if we wished to do so."
"So," said Phellion, "in one of the rare occasions of life when reason
and inclination blend together, you think you must be guided solely by
the question of material interests. Celeste, as we know, has no
inclination for Monsieur de la Peyrade. Brought up with Felix--"
"Brought up with Felix!" interrupted Brigitte. "She was given a period
of time to choose between Monsieur de la Peyrade and your son,--that's
how we coerce her, if you please,--and she would not take Monsieur
Felix, whose atheism is too well known."
"You are mistaken, mademoiselle, my son is not an atheist; for
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