| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Critias by Plato: acceptably to him; but if unintentionally I have said anything wrong, I
pray that he will impose upon me a just retribution, and the just
retribution of him who errs is that he should be set right. Wishing, then,
to speak truly in future concerning the generation of the gods, I pray him
to give me knowledge, which of all medicines is the most perfect and best.
And now having offered my prayer I deliver up the argument to Critias, who
is to speak next according to our agreement. (Tim.)
CRITIAS: And I, Timaeus, accept the trust, and as you at first said that
you were going to speak of high matters, and begged that some forbearance
might be shown to you, I too ask the same or greater forbearance for what I
am about to say. And although I very well know that my request may appear
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Cavalry General by Xenophon: shrines and statues are there congregated. (Thus in the great
Dionysia[4] the choruses embrace their gracious service to the other
gods and to the Twelve with circling dance.[5]) When the circuit is
completed, and the riders are back again in front of the Hermae, it
would add, I think, to the beauty of the scene[6] if at this point
they formed in companies of tribes, and giving their horses rein,
swept forward at the gallop to the Eleusinion. Nor must I omit to note
the right position of the lance, to lessen as far as possible the risk
of mutual interference.[7] Each trooper should hold his lance straight
between the ears of his charger, which in proportion to the
distinctness given to the weapon will rouse terror, and at the same
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: Chopine, led by the dream of at last finding happiness, and also by
the purpose of saving her lover from the danger that threatened him.
During this time Corentin had gone to find the commandant. He had some
difficulty in recognizing Hulot when he found him in a little square,
where he was busy with certain military preparations. The brave
veteran had made a sacrifice, the full merit of which may be difficult
to appreciate. His queue and his moustache were cut off, and his hair
had a sprinkling of powder. He had changed his uniform for a goatskin,
wore hobnailed shoes, a belt full of pistols, and carried a heavy
carbine. In this costume he was reviewing about two hundred of the
natives of Fougeres, all in the same kind of dress, which was fitted
The Chouans |
