| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Alexandria and her Schools by Charles Kingsley: to which it formed the only key, thus keeping all Egypt, as it were, for
its own private farm, it was weak only on one side, that of Judea. That
small strip of fertile mountain land, containing innumerable military
positions from which an enemy might annoy Egypt, being, in fact, one
natural chain of fortresses, was the key to Phoenicia and Syria. It was
an eagle's eyrie by the side of a pen of fowls. It must not be left
defenceless for a single year. Tyre and Gaza had been taken; so no
danger was to be apprehended from the seaboard: but to subdue the
Judean mountaineers, a race whose past sufferings had hardened them in a
dogged fanaticism of courage and endurance, would be a long and
sanguinary task. It was better to make terms with them; to employ them
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan: to be handsome.
LADY SNEERWELL. Oh, surely she is a pretty woman. . . .
[CRABTREE.] I am very glad you think so ma'am.
MRS. CANDOUR. She has a charming fresh Colour.
CRABTREE. Yes when it is fresh put on--
LADY TEAZLE. O fie! I'll swear her colour is natural--I have seen
it come and go--
CRABTREE. I dare swear you have, ma'am: it goes of a Night,
and comes again in the morning.
SIR BENJAMIN. True, uncle, it not only comes and goes but what's
more egad her maid can fetch and carry it--
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: hast thou arranged all the matters which were sent from London,
and put the western chambers into such fashion as may answer my
lord's humour?"
"They may serve a king on his bridal-day," said Anthony; "and I
promise you that Dame Amy sits in them yonder as proud and gay as
if she were the Queen of Sheba."
"'Tis the better, good Anthony," answered Varney; "we must found
our future fortunes on her good liking."
"We build on sand then," said Anthony Foster; "for supposing that
she sails away to court in all her lord's dignity and authority,
how is she to look back upon me, who am her jailor as it were, to
Kenilworth |
