| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: unspoken doubt. "Only the very last intention of the fellow could have been
dangerous; and when I challenged him to give me the sign, I diverted his
mind from the desire of revenge. He died with the set purpose of biting the
stepping-stone; and that purpose he was able to accomplish, but nothing
else. All the rest he must have forgotten... So you need not feel any
further anxiety about the matter."
-- And indeed the dead man gave no more trouble. Nothing at all happened.
OF A MIRROR AND A BELL
Eight centuries ago, the priests of Mugenyama, in the province of Totomi
(1), wanted a big bell for their temple; and they asked the women of their
parish to help them by contributing old bronze mirrors for bell-metal.
Kwaidan |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Menexenus by Plato: Antisthenes, and in the next generation Aristotle, are all said to have
composed dialogues; and mistakes of names are very likely to have occurred.
Greek literature in the third century before Christ was almost as
voluminous as our own, and without the safeguards of regular publication,
or printing, or binding, or even of distinct titles. An unknown writing
was naturally attributed to a known writer whose works bore the same
character; and the name once appended easily obtained authority. A
tendency may also be observed to blend the works and opinions of the master
with those of his scholars. To a later Platonist, the difference between
Plato and his imitators was not so perceptible as to ourselves. The
Memorabilia of Xenophon and the Dialogues of Plato are but a part of a
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: GLOSTER.
[Aside to Clarence.] Ay, good leave have you;
for you will have leave
Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.
[Gloster and Clarence stand apart.]
KING EDWARD.
Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?
LADY GREY.
Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.
KING EDWARD.
And would you not do much to do them good?
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