| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Ivanhoe by Walter Scott: ``he will soon see the difference betwixt the support
of such a lusty lot of spears as mine, and that
of a heartless mob of Saxon churls. Yet I mean
no immediate discovery of myself. Seem I not in
this garb as bold a forester as ever blew horn? The
blame of the violence shall rest with the outlaws of
the Yorkshire forests. I have sure spies on the
Saxon's motions---To-night they sleep in the convent
of Saint Wittol, or Withold, or whatever they
call that churl of a Saxon Saint at Burton-on-Trent.
Next day's march brings them within our reach,
Ivanhoe |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift: royal, which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten minutes
without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate
resolution, often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards
found, was towards the capital city, about half a mile distant;
whither it was agreed by his majesty in council that I must be
conveyed. I answered in few words, but to no purpose, and made a
sign with my hand that was loose, putting it to the other (but
over his excellency's head for fear of hurting him or his train)
and then to my own head and body, to signify that I desired my
liberty. It appeared that he understood me well enough, for he
shook his head by way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a
Gulliver's Travels |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Hated Son by Honore de Balzac: woodland glade. From the house to this natural rampart stretched a
mass of verdure peculiar to that rich soil; a beautiful green sheet
bordered by a fringe of rare trees, the tones of which formed a
tapestry of exquisite coloring: there, the silvery tints of a pine
stood forth against the darker green of several alders; here, before a
group of sturdy oaks a slender poplar lifted its palm-like figure,
ever swaying; farther on, the weeping willows drooped their pale
foliage between the stout, round-headed walnuts. This belt of trees
enabled the occupants of the house to go down at all hours to the
river-bank fearless of the rays of the sun.
The facade of the house, before which lay the yellow ribbon of a
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