| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: we have been at work since four o'clock this morning, and we
have come on board to dinner, and there is no beer for us
before tomorrow morning, to which a sufficient answer is
required before we go from the beacon; and we are, Sir, your
most obedient servants.'
On reading this, the writer returned a verbal message,
intimating that an answer would be sent on board of the
tender, at the same time ordering the boat instantly to quit
the beacon. He then addressed the following note to the
landing-master:-
`BEACON-HOUSE, 22ND JUNE 1810,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: raise his baton. He gathered himself together, and the next
moment a bugle sounded loud and clear. In one blinding rush he
drove his spurs into the sides of his horse, and in instant
answer felt the noble steed spring forward with a bound.
Through all the clashing of his armor reverberating in the hollow
depths of his helmet, he saw the mail-clad figure from the other
end of the lists rushing towards him, looming larger and larger
as they came together. He gripped his saddle with his knees,
clutched the stirrup with the soles of his feet, and bent his
body still more forward. In the instant of meeting, with almost
the blindness of instinct, he dropped the point of his spear
Men of Iron |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare: Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be
That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee? 156
'Is thine own heart to shine own face affected?
Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left?
Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected,
Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft. 160
Narcissus so himself himself forsook,
And died to kiss his shadow in the brook.
'Torches are made to light, jewels to wear,
Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use, 164
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