| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: once observed, these men of wit and audacity lost their spirit; and,
taking refuge in the menu, which was excellent, they either talked
together in a low voice, or let the conversation drag itself along in
bourgeois commonplaces. They ate and they drank, but they did not
dine. Bixiou, incapable of bearing this state of things during a whole
dinner, determined to create a reaction. The appearance of this
Swedish magnate, evidently on intimate terms with the Saint-Esteve,
puzzled him. He noticed a certain insufficiency in Vautrin, and
thought to himself that if he were really a great nobleman, he would
be more equal to the occasion, and give a tone to the feast. He
determined, therefore, to test him, and thus provide amusement, at any
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from United States Declaration of Independence: which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring
Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government,
and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once
an example and fit instrument for introducing the same
absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws,
United States Declaration of Independence |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy: as it came down, he must have done so without knowing it--checked
it very considerably too; for the full blow would have knocked his
hand abroad, and in reality it is only made black-and-blue like.'
'How thankful I am!' said Stephen.
The perplexed Unity looked at him with her mouth rather than with
her eyes.
'That will do, Unity,' said Elfride magisterially; and the two
maids passed on.
'Elfride, do you forgive me?' said Stephen with a faint smile.
'No man is fair in love;' and he took her fingers lightly in his
own.
A Pair of Blue Eyes |
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 Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: one he himself, and all will be as one."
The old man spoke loudly and often looked round, evidently
wishing that as many as possible should hear him.
"And have you long held this faith?"
"I? A long time. This is the twenty-third year that they
persecute me."
"Persecute you? How?
"As they persecuted Christ, so they persecute me. They seize me,
and take me before the courts and before the priests, the Scribes
and the Pharisees. Once they put me into a madhouse; but they can
do nothing because I am free. They say, 'What is your name?'
Resurrection |
