| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: This scene lasted but a few seconds: the shark returned, and,
turning on his back, prepared himself for cutting the Indian in two,
when I saw Captain Nemo rise suddenly, and then, dagger in hand,
walk straight to the monster, ready to fight face to face with him.
The very moment the shark was going to snap the unhappy fisherman
in two, he perceived his new adversary, and, turning over,
made straight towards him.
I can still see Captain Nemo's position. Holding himself well together,
he waited for the shark with admirable coolness; and, when it rushed at him,
threw himself on one side with wonderful quickness, avoiding the shock,
and burying his dagger deep into its side. But it was not all over.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: The wraiths of their dead companions came back to their souls and
increased their energy; they felt, in a confused way, that they were
the ministers of a god diffused in the hearts of the oppressed, and
were the pontiffs, so to speak, of universal vengeance! Then they were
enraged with grief at what was extravagant injustice, and above all by
the sight of Carthage on the horizon. They swore an oath to fight for
one another until death.
The beasts of burden were killed, and as much as possible was eaten so
as to gain strength; afterwards they slept. Some prayed, turning
towards different constellations.
The Carthaginians arrived first in the plain. They rubbed the edges of
Salammbo |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Red Inn by Honore de Balzac: looked at each other, but I saw a tinge of bitter sadness or reproach
upon her countenance.
"Do you think your conduct is merciful?" she asked, drawing me to the
embrasure of a window just as I was leaving the card-table, having
lost all my money. "Would you accept the power of reading hearts? Why
not leave things to human justice or divine justice? We may escape one
but we cannot escape the other. Do you think the privilege of a judge
of the court of assizes so much to be envied? You have almost done the
work of an executioner."
"After sharing and stimulating my curiosity, why are you now lecturing
me on morality?"
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