| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: work takes the form of a well surmounted by its kerb.
When the soil is earthy and homogeneous, the architectural type is
free from obstructions and the Spider's dwelling is a cylindrical
tube; but, when the site is pebbly, the shape is modified according
to the exigencies of the digging. In the second case, the lair is
often a rough, winding cave, at intervals along whose inner wall
stick blocks of stone avoided in the process of excavation.
Whether regular or irregular, the house is plastered to a certain
depth with a coat of silk, which prevents earth-slips and
facilitates scaling when a prompt exit is required.
Baglivi, in his unsophisticated Latin, teaches us how to catch the
The Life of the Spider |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: richly-coloured cloths, and in that house gold seemed as plentiful
as bricks and oak are with us in England. Led by domestics who
bore cedar wands in their hands, we went through many passages and
rooms, till at length we came to a chamber where other domestics
were awaiting us, who washed us with scented waters and clothed us
in gorgeous apparel. Thence they conducted us to a door where we
were bidden to remove our shoes, and a coarse coloured robe was
given to each of us to hide our splendid dress. The robes having
been put on, we were suffered to pass the door, and found ourselves
in a vast chamber in which were many noble men and some women, all
standing and clad in coarse robes. At the far end of this chamber
Montezuma's Daughter |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: trouble to us, not a bit in the world. You must stay.
It's a long, dusty three mile, and we can't let you walk.
And, besides, I've already told 'em to put on another
plate when I see you coming; so you mustn't disap-
point us. Come right in and make yourself at home."
So Tom he thanked them very hearty and handsome,
and let himself be persuaded, and come in; and when
he was in he said he was a stranger from Hicksville,
Ohio, and his name was William Thompson -- and he
made another bow.
Well, he run on, and on, and on, making up stuff
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn |
