"Rapidly he sought the jewel casket in that treasure trove: it was shut tight with a silver lock: neither trusty guard nor traitorous intruder had ever laid a hand on it. With a glistening ruby for a key, he unlocked that casket and slipped the jewel in. To and fro his charger sped along that narrow course, until in the end it galloped itself lame. Thus the unruly carnal soul starts out on its impetuous career - only to come at last to rest, shorn of all selfishness."
Find the work from which the quote comes, and the work's author, and estimated date it was written. If appropriate, find the speaker or character. Describe the significance of the quote (ie. its message, symbols and/or role in the overall narrative plot) and how it relates to the literary work (or that genre of literary works) as a whole.