| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: that would make a sound and break up an evening that was ending
unfortunately.
"True," said de Ronquerolles, looking at his watch; "it is a quarter
to twelve."
He bowed to Madame de Rastignac ceremoniously, and went away, followed
by the rest of the company.
"You saw his embarrassment," said Rastignac to his wife; "he had no
malicious intention in what he said."
"It is of no consequence. I was saying just now to Madame de
l'Estorade's that your past life had given you a number of detestable
acquaintances."
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Iliad by Homer: this matter; would that I could hide him from death's sight when
his hour is come, so surely as I can find him armour that shall
amaze the eyes of all who behold it."
When he had so said he left her and went to his bellows, turning
them towards the fire and bidding them do their office. Twenty
bellows blew upon the melting-pots, and they blew blasts of every
kind, some fierce to help him when he had need of them, and
others less strong as Vulcan willed it in the course of his work.
He threw tough copper into the fire, and tin, with silver and
gold; he set his great anvil on its block, and with one hand
grasped his mighty hammer while he took the tongs in the other.
The Iliad |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain: said to the ruined stranger all of the words contained in the test-
remark, including the disparaging fifteen. [Sensation.] When the
late publication was made I recalled them, and I resolved to claim
the sack of coin, for by every right I was entitled to it. Now I
will ask you to consider this point, and weigh it well; that
stranger's gratitude to me that night knew no bounds; he said
himself that he could find no words for it that were adequate, and
that if he should ever be able he would repay me a thousandfold.
Now, then, I ask you this; could I expect--could I believe--could I
even remotely imagine--that, feeling as he did, he would do so
ungrateful a thing as to add those quite unnecessary fifteen words
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg |
