| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from La Grande Breteche by Honore de Balzac: husband's part; he did not wish to give his wife the opportunity of
saying anything with a double meaning. On Madame de Merret's side it
was pride or prudence. When the wall was half built up the cunning
mason took advantage of his master's back being turned to break one of
the two panes in the top of the door with a blow of his pick. By this
Madame de Merret understood that Rosalie had spoken to Gorenflot. They
all three then saw the face of a dark, gloomy-looking man, with black
hair and flaming eyes.
"Before her husband turned round again the poor woman had nodded to
the stranger, to whom the signal was meant to convey, 'Hope.'
"At four o'clock, as the day was dawning, for it was the month of
La Grande Breteche |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: thus forsaken his former disgraceful life, and repented of his
evil deeds, handed over to his son the rule of all his kingdom.
He himself dwelt in solitude, continually casting dust on his
head, and groaning for very heaviness, and watering his face with
his tears, being alone, communing with him who is everywhere
present and imploring him to forgive his sins. And he abased
himself to such a depth of contrition and humility, that he
refused to name the name of God with his own lips, and was scarce
brought by his son's admonitions to make so bold. Thus the king
passed through the good change and entered the road that leadeth
to virtue, so that his righteousness now surpassed his former
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy: Mrs. Yeobright, with whom he had been on friendly terms
since she had learnt what a providential countermove he
had made towards the restitution of the family guineas.
She wondered at the lateness of his call, but had no
objection to see him.
He gave her a full account of Clym's affliction, and of the
state in which he was living; then, referring to Thomasin,
touched gently upon the apparent sadness of her days.
"Now, ma'am, depend upon it," he said, "you couldn't do
a better thing for either of 'em than to make yourself
at home in their houses, even if there should be a little
Return of the Native |
