| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac: never even be kissed by what people call a lover until my father has
returned."
"Why don't you want me in the church to-day?"
"Do you venture to question me after all I have done you the honor to
say, and to ask of you?"
Butscha bowed without another word, and departed to find his master,
in all the rapture of being taken into the service of his goddess.
Half an hour later, Monsieur and Madame Latournelle came to fetch
Modeste, who complained of a horrible toothache.
"I really have not had the courage to dress myself," she said.
"Well then," replied the worthy chaperone, "stay at home."
Modeste Mignon |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: primitive nature of man, as the sprouts of the forest which has been
felled. In like manner the evil which one does in the interval of a
day prevents the germs of virtues which began to spring up again
from developing themselves and destroys them.
"After the germs of virtue have thus been prevented many times
from developing themselves, then the beneficent breath of evening
does not suffice to preserve them. As soon as the breath of evening
does not suffice longer to preserve them, then the nature of man
does not differ much from that of the brute. Men seeing the nature
of this man like that of the brute, think that he has never
possessed the innate faculty of reason. Are those the true and
Walden |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: very feelingly; "but indeed I cannot go. If I am wrong,
I am doing what I believe to be right."
"I suspect," said Isabella, in a low voice,
"there is no great struggle."
Catherine's heart swelled; she drew away her arm,
and Isabella made no opposition. Thus passed a long ten minutes,
till they were again joined by Thorpe, who, coming to them
with a gayer look, said, "Well, I have settled the matter,
and now we may all go tomorrow with a safe conscience.
I have been to Miss Tilney, and made your excuses."
"You have not!" cried Catherine.
Northanger Abbey |
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 Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: as a member of the brotherhood of peers.[6]
[5] But see Aristot. "Pol." ii. 9, 32.
[6] Grote, "H. G." viii. 81; "Hell." III. iii. 5.
It may be added, that there was no doubt as to the great antiquity of
this code of laws. The point is clear so far, that Lycurgus himself is
said to have lived in the days of the Heraclidae.[7] But being of so
long standing, these laws, even at this day, still are stamped in the
eyes of other men with all the novelty of youth. And the most
marvellous thing of all is that, while everybody is agreed to praise
these remarkable institutions, there is not a single state which cares
to imitate them.
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