The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Herodias by Gustave Flaubert: furniture could be heard, and the rattle of silver plates and dishes.
From the highest tower a loud blast upon a conch summoned from far and
near all the slaves belonging to the castle.
CHAPTER II
The ramparts were thronged with people when at last Vitellius entered
the castle gates, leaning on the arm of his interpreter. Behind them
came an imposing red litter, decorated with plumes and mirrors. The
proconsul wore a toga ornamented with the laticlave, a broad purple
band extending down the front of the garment, indicating his rank; and
his feet were encased in the kind of buskins worn by consuls. A guard
of lictors surrounded him. Against the wall they placed their twelve
 Herodias |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An Inland Voyage by Robert Louis Stevenson: it would sparkle like a point of light for us. The village was
dotted with people with their heads in air; and the children were
in a bustle all along the street and far up the straight road that
climbs the hill, where we could still see them running in loose
knots. It was a balloon, we learned, which had left Saint Quentin
at half-past five that evening. Mighty composedly the majority of
the grown people took it. But we were English, and were soon
running up the hill with the best. Being travellers ourselves in a
small way, we would fain have seen these other travellers alight.
The spectacle was over by the time we gained the top of the hill.
All the gold had withered out of the sky, and the balloon had
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Mother by Owen Wister: think of it."
"Of course, I went steadily on with my work at the office in Nassau
Street, nor did I neglect my writing entirely. My attention, however, was
now turned to the question of investing my fortune. Just round the corner
from our office was the firm of Blake and Beverly, Stocks and Bonds.
Thither my steps began frequently to turn. Mr. Beverly had business which
brought him every week to the room of our president; and so having a sort
of acquaintance with him, I felt it easier to consult him than to seek
any other among the brokers, to which class I was a well nigh total
stranger. He very kindly consented to be my adviser. I was well pleased
to find how much I had underrated the interest-bearing capacity of my
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