| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac: involved to his mind sentiments of honor and loyalty of far greater
importance than mere social laws; and his present conduct proceeded
from one of those compacts which, in case disaster came of it, could
be judged only in a higher court than one of earth. The majority of
dramas lie really in the ideas which we make to ourselves about
things. Events which seem to us dramatic are nothing more than
subjects which our souls convert into tragedy or comedy according to
the bent of our characters.
Madame Latournelle and Madame Dumay, who were appointed to watch
Modeste, had a certain assumed stiffness of demeanor and a quiver in
their voices, which the suspected party did not notice, so absorbed
Modeste Mignon |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Droll Stories, V. 1 by Honore de Balzac: mother noticed, but said not a word, being in fear of the lord to whom
the whole of the country belonged. When the fagot was put into the
grate and flared up, the good hunter said to the old woman, "Ah, ah!
that warms one almost as much as your daughter's eyes."
"But alas, my lord," said she, "we have nothing to cook on that fire."
"Oh yes," replied he.
"What?"
"Ah, my good woman, lend your daughter to my wife, who has need of a
good handmaiden: we will give you two fagots every day."
"Oh, my lord, what could I cook at such a good fire?"
"Why," replied the old rascal, "good broth, for I will give you a
Droll Stories, V. 1 |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley: for gunpowder, had himself lowered in a basket down the crater of
a South American volcano, and gathered sulphur for them off the
burning cliffs: but how can volcanos help to make me? Am I made
of lava? Or is there lava in me?
My child, I did not say that volcanos helped to make you. I said
that they helped to make your body; which is a very different
matter, as I beg you to remember, now and always. Your body is no
more you yourself than the hoop which you trundle, or the pony
which you ride. It is, like them, your servant, your tool, your
instrument, your organ, with which you work: and a very useful,
trusty, cunningly-contrived organ it is; and therefore I advise
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