| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Gambara by Honore de Balzac: could not restrain her tears. In the midst of this chaos of notes,
Gambara had every now and then given vent to his rapture in
exclamations of delight. He had closed his eyes in ecstasy; had smiled
at his piano; had looked at it with a frown; put out his tongue at it
after the fashion of the inspired performer,--in short, was quite
intoxicated with the poetry that filled his brain, and that he had
vainly striven to utter. The strange discords that clashed under his
fingers had obviously sounded in his ears like celestial harmonies.
A deaf man, seeing the inspired gaze of his blue eyes open on another
world, the rosy glow that tinged his cheeks, and, above all, the
heavenly serenity which ecstasy stamped on his proud and noble
Gambara |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Simple Soul by Gustave Flaubert: Then her mother died and her sisters went their different ways; a
farmer took her in, and while she was quite small, let her keep cows
in the fields. She was clad in miserable rags, beaten for the
slightest offence and finally dismissed for a theft of thirty sous
which she did not commit. She took service on another farm where she
tended the poultry; and as she was well thought of by her master, her
fellow-workers soon grew jealous.
One evening in August (she was then eighteen years old), they
persuaded her to accompany them to the fair at Colleville. She was
immediately dazzled by the noise, the lights in the trees, the
brightness of the dresses, the laces and gold crosses, and the crowd
A Simple Soul |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte: where both may meet again, and sin and sorrow are unknown, surely
that too may be borne; and, meantime, we endeavour to live to the
glory of Him who has scattered so many blessings in our path.
Edward, by his strenuous exertions, has worked surprising reforms
in his parish, and is esteemed and loved by its inhabitants - as he
deserves; for whatever his faults may be as a man (and no one is
entirely without), I defy anybody to blame him as a pastor, a
husband, or a father.
Our children, Edward, Agnes, and little Mary, promise well; their
education, for the time being, is chiefly committed to me; and they
shall want no good thing that a mother's care can give. Our modest
Agnes Grey |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: but not one distinct line of road.
When Isabella had perused the letter, her first enquiry was after
her father. He had left the castle, she was informed, early in
the morning, after a long interview with Mr. Ratcliffe, and was
already far on his way to the next port, where he might expect to
find shipping for the Continent.
"Where was Sir Edward Mauley?"
No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventful scene of the
preceding evening.
"Odd, if onything has befa'en puir Elshie," said Hobbie Elliot,
"I wad rather I were harried ower again."
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