| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: and on several occasions Rachel accompanied her, the two
friends setting out early in the morning, and remaining in the
wood until dusk. Once or twice after these excursions Mrs. M.
thought her daughter's manner rather peculiar; she seemed
languid and dreamy, and as it has been expressed, "different
from herself," but these peculiarities seem to have been
thought too trifling for remark. One evening, however, after
Rachel had come home, her mother heard a noise which sounded
like suppressed weeping in the girl's room, and on going in
found her lying, half undressed, upon the bed, evidently in the
greatest distress. As soon as she saw her mother, she
The Great God Pan |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Eryxias by Platonic Imitator: wisdom like Nestor's and the advantages accruing from it, to sell these, if
he were so disposed, would be easier still. Or is a house a most useful
and necessary possession, and does it make a great difference in the
comfort of life to have a mansion like Polytion's instead of living in a
shabby little cottage, whereas wisdom is of small use and it is of no
importance whether a man is wise or ignorant about the highest matters? Or
is wisdom despised of men and can find no buyers, although cypress wood and
marble of Pentelicus are eagerly bought by numerous purchasers? Surely the
prudent pilot or the skilful physician, or the artist of any kind who is
proficient in his art, is more worth than the things which are especially
reckoned among riches; and he who can advise well and prudently for himself
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Ivanhoe by Walter Scott: the ear, leaving but sufficient space for each to die
away in distant echo, ere the air was again filled
by repetition of the iron knell. These sounds, the
signal of the approaching ceremony, chilled with
awe the hearts of the assembled multitude, whose
eyes were now turned to the Preceptory, expecting
the approach of the Grand Master, the champion,
and the criminal.
At length the drawbridge fell, the gates opened,
and a knight, bearing the great standard of the
Order, sallied from the castle, preceded by six
Ivanhoe |
