| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Battle of the Books by Jonathan Swift: follow, bred to a mean trade, yet I have sense enough to know that
all pretences of foretelling by astrology are deceits, for this
manifest reason, because the wise and the learned, who can only
know whether there be any truth in this science, do all unanimously
agree to laugh at and despise it; and none but the poor ignorant
vulgar give it any credit, and that only upon the word of such
silly wretches as I and my fellows, who can hardly write or read."
I then asked him why he had not calculated his own nativity, to see
whether it agreed with Bickerstaff's prediction, at which he shook
his head and said, "Oh, sir, this is no time for jesting, but for
repenting those fooleries, as I do now from the very bottom of my
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Cromwell by William Shakespeare: Therefore we'll shield you from ensuing harms.
SECOND WITNESS.
If you will warrant us the deed is good,
We'll undertake it.
GARDINER.
Kneel down, and I will here absolve you both.
This Crucifix I lay upon your head,
And sprinkle holy-water on your brows.
The deed is meritorious that you do,
And by it shall you purchase grace from heaven.
FIRST WITNESS.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: principal streets are occupied with troops;--through lanes and by-ways
have I stolen to thee!
Clara. Tell me, how is it?
Brackenburg (seating himself). O Clara, let me weep. I loved him not. He
was the rich man who lured to better a pasture the poor man's solitary
lamb. I have never cursed him, God has created me with a true and tender
heart. My life was consumed in anguish, and each day I hoped would end
my misery.
Clara. Let that be forgotten, Brackenburg! Forget thyself. Speak to me of
him! Is it true? Is he condemned?
Brackenburg. He is! I know it.
Egmont |
