The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Emma by Jane Austen: and probabilities, Emma could only class it, as a proof of love,
with Mr. Elton's seeing ready wit in her.
"I wish we could contrive it," said she; "but I cannot think
of any tolerable pretence for going in;--no servant that I want
to inquire about of his housekeeper--no message from my father."
She pondered, but could think of nothing. After a mutual silence
of some minutes, Harriet thus began again--
"I do so wonder, Miss Woodhouse, that you should not be married,
or going to be married! so charming as you are!"--
Emma laughed, and replied,
"My being charming, Harriet, is not quite enough to induce me to marry;
 Emma |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from King James Bible: Chaldeans.
JER 22:26 And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into
another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.
JER 22:27 But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither
shall they not return.
JER 22:28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel
wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed,
and are cast into a land which they know not?
JER 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.
JER 22:30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that
shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper,
 King James Bible |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: to furnish substantial testimony of my appreciation of all
that you have done to render my imprisonment bearable.
"Promptly you have brought my food each day, seeing that
it was pure and of sufficient quantity. Never by word
or deed have you attempted to take advantage of my
defenceless condition to insult or torture me. You have
been uniformly courteous and considerate--it is this more
than any other thing which prompts my feeling of gratitude
and my desire to give you some slight token of it.
"In the guard-room of my palace are many fine trappings.
Go thou there and select the harness which most pleases you
 The Gods of Mars |