| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: nightmares occasioned and brought back by his hours of delirium.
However, the natures of both men were rigid, no question from Marius
to M. Fauchelevent was possible. Such an idea had not even occurred
to him. We have already indicated this characteristic detail.
Two men who have a secret in common, and who, by a sort of
tacit agreement, exchange not a word on the subject, are less
rare than is commonly supposed.
Once only, did Marius make the attempt. He introduced into the
conversation the Rue de la Chanvrerie, and, turning to M. Fauchelevent,
he said to him:
"Of course, you are acquainted with that street?"
Les Miserables |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: to him now and seemed charged with a sort of melodious meaning.
They signified something fair and softly bright, that had easy
motions and spoke very agreeably.
"Have you many friends in Paris; do you go out?" asked Madame de Cintre,
who had at last thought of something to say.
"Do you mean do I dance, and all that?"
"Do you go dans le monde, as we say?"
"I have seen a good many people. Mrs. Tristram has taken me about.
I do whatever she tells me."
"By yourself, you are not fond of amusements?"
"Oh yes, of some sorts. I am not fond of dancing, and that sort of thing;
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft: knowledge far surpassed man’s today, though they made use of its
more widespread and elaborate forms only when obliged to. Some
of the sculptures suggested that they had passed through a stage
of mechanized life on other planets, but had receded upon finding
its effects emotionally unsatisfying. Their preternatural toughness
of organization and simplicity of natural wants made them peculiarly
able to live on a high plane without the more specialized fruits
of artificial manufacture, and even without garments, except for
occasional protection against the elements.
It was under the
sea, at first for food and later for other purposes, that they
At the Mountains of Madness |
