| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Dead Souls by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol: and the cheerful candle-light, and the cricket chirping in a corner,
and the glass door, and the spring night which, laying its elbows upon
the tree-tops, and spangled with stars, and vocal with the
nightingales which were pouring forth warbled ditties from the
recesses of the foliage, kept glancing through the door, and regarding
the company within.
"How it delights me to hear your words, good Constantine
Thedorovitch!" said Chichikov. "Indeed, nowhere in Russia have I met
with a man of equal intellect."
Kostanzhoglo smiled, while realising that the compliment was scarcely
deserved.
Dead Souls |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Herodias by Gustave Flaubert: "What! Art thou still here?" said the tetrarch in displeasure. "Thou
seekest Iaokanann, no doubt."
"And thyself, my lord. I have something of great importance to tell
thee."
At a sign from Antipas, the Essene followed him into a somewhat dark
and gloomy room.
The daylight came faintly through a grated window. The walls were of a
deep shade of crimson, so dark as to look almost black. At one end of
the room stood an ebony bed, ornamented with bands of leather. A
shield of gold, hanging at the head of the bed, shone like a sun in
the obscurity of the apartment. Antipas crossed over to the couch and
Herodias |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Letters from England by Elizabeth Davis Bancroft: my time in every way.
LETTER: To W.D.B. and A.B.
Tuesday night, January 19, 1847
To-day we have been present at the opening of Parliament, but how
can I picture to you the interest and magnificence of the scene. I
will begin quite back, and give you all the preparations for a
"Court Day." Ten days before, a note was written to Lord Willoughby
d'Eresby, informing him of my intention to attend, that a seat might
be reserved for me, and also soliciting several tickets for American
ladies and gentlemen. . . . I cannot take them with me, however, as
the seat assigned to the ladies of Foreign Ministers is very near
|
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 Dracula by Bram Stoker: He be of child brain in much. Now this criminal of ours
is predestinate to crime also. He, too, have child brain,
and it is of the child to do what he have done. The little bird,
the little fish, the little animal learn not by principle,
but empirically. And when he learn to do, then there is
to him the ground to start from to do more. `Dos pou sto,'
said Archimedes. `Give me a fulcrum, and I shall move the world!'
To do once, is the fulcrum whereby child brain become man brain.
And until he have the purpose to do more, he continue to do
the same again every time, just as he have done before!
Oh, my dear, I see that your eyes are opened, and that to you
Dracula |
