| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton: say, why Ellie shouldn't give us presents--as expensive presents
as she likes; and the pearl is a beauty. All I ask is: for
what specific services were they given? For, allowing for all
the absence of scruple that marks the intercourse of truly
civilized people, you'll probably agree that there are limits;
at least up to now there have been limits ...."
"I really don't know what you mean. I suppose Ellie wanted to
show that she was grateful to us for looking after Clarissa."
"But she gave us all this in exchange for that, didn't she?" he
suggested, with a sweep of the hand around the beautiful shadowy
room. "A whole summer of it if we choose."
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare: 'In night,' quoth she, 'desire sees best of all.' 720
But if thou fall, O! then imagine this,
The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips,
And all is but to rob thee of a kiss. 723
Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips
Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn,
Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn.
'Now of this dark night I perceive the reason:
Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine 728
Till forging Nature be condemn'd of treason,
For stealing moulds from heaven that were divine;
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: in my hands and turning up her face I looked straight down into her
black eyes which should have been lustrous. Like a piece of glass
breathed upon they reflected no light, revealed no depths, and
under my ardent gaze remained tarnished, misty, unconscious.
"Will Monsieur kindly let me go. Monsieur shouldn't play the
child, either." (I let her go.) "Madame could have the world at
her feet. Indeed she has it there only she doesn't care for it."
How talkative she was, this maid with unsealed lips! For some
reason or other this last statement of hers brought me immense
comfort.
"Yes?" I whispered breathlessly.
The Arrow of Gold |
