| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Sarrasine by Honore de Balzac: as brilliantly lighted as it was sumptuously furnished; in the centre
stood a bountifully supplied table, laden with inviolable bottles,
with laughing decanters whose red facets sparkled merrily. He
recognized the singers from the theatre, male and female, mingled with
charming women, all ready to begin an artists' spree and waiting only
for him. Sarrasine restrained a feeling of displeasure and put a good
face on the matter. He had hoped for a dimly lighted chamber, his
mistress leaning over a brazier, a jealous rival within two steps,
death and love, confidences exchanged in low tones, heart to heart,
hazardous kisses, and faces so near together that La Zambinella's hair
would have touched caressingly his desire-laden brow, burning with
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: small black rough-looking object, like a terrier dog.
"He has nae dog that ever I heard of," said Hobbie, "but mony a
deil about his hand--lord forgie me for saying sic a word!--It
keeps its grund, be what it like--I'm judging it's a badger; but
whae kens what shapes thae bogies will take to fright a body? it
will maybe start up like a lion or a crocodile when I come
nearer. I'se e'en drive a stage at it, for if it change its
shape when I'm ower near, Tarras will never stand it; and it will
be ower muckle to hae him and the deil to fight wi' baith at
ance."
He therefore cautiously threw a stone at the object, which
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Several Works by Edgar Allan Poe: With such name as "Nevermore."
But the Raven, sitting lonely on that placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if its soul in that one word he did outpour
Nothing farther then he uttered; not a feather then he fluttered--
Till I scarcely more than muttered: "Other friends have flown before--
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said "Nevermore."
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore--
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