| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Perfect Wagnerite: A Commentary on the Niblung's Ring by George Bernard Shaw: power, identified with another theme, on which Wagner finally
exercises his favorite device by making it break and fail, cut
through, as it were, by the tearing sound of the theme identified
with the sword, when Siegfried shivers the spear with the stroke
of Nothung. Yet another theme connected with Wotan is the
Wanderer music which breaks with such a majestic reassurance on
the nightmare terror of Mimmy when Wotan appears at the mouth of
his cave in the scene of the three riddles. Thus not only are
there several Wotan themes, but each varies in its inflexions and
shades of tone color according to its dramatic circumstances. So,
too, the merry ham tune of the young Siegfried changes its
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: and father were there in the house, and Vic--all sleeping
peacefully. He ran quickly toward the menacing figure,
and as he did so he saw the other halt behind a great tree
and strike a match. In the glow of the flame he saw it
touch close to the package that the fellow held, and then he
was upon him.
There was a brief and terrific struggle. The stranger hurled
the package toward the house. Barney caught him by the
throat, beating him heavily in the face; and then, realizing
what the package was, he hurled the fellow from him, and
sprang toward the hissing and sputtering missile where it
The Mad King |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Philebus by Plato: then wisdom conquers, and pleasure is defeated;--do you agree?
PROTARCHUS: Certainly.
SOCRATES: And what do you say, Philebus?
PHILEBUS: I say, and shall always say, that pleasure is easily the
conqueror; but you must decide for yourself, Protarchus.
PROTARCHUS: You, Philebus, have handed over the argument to me, and have
no longer a voice in the matter?
PHILEBUS: True enough. Nevertheless I would clear myself and deliver my
soul of you; and I call the goddess herself to witness that I now do so.
PROTARCHUS: You may appeal to us; we too will be the witnesses of your
words. And now, Socrates, whether Philebus is pleased or displeased, we
|
