| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: sheer, and they might be crushed by the stones which should hail on
them from above. All went well; we fled, the Spaniards followed
flushed with victory, till they were fairly in the trap. Now a
single boulder came rushing from on high, and falling on a horse,
killed him, then rebounding, carried dismay and wounds to those
behind. Another followed, and yet another, and I grew glad at
heart, for it seemed to me that the danger was over, and that for
the second time my strategy had succeeded.
But suddenly from above there came a sound other than that of the
rushing rocks, the sound of men joining in battle, that grew and
grew till the air was full of its tumult, then something whirled
Montezuma's Daughter |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: have abandoned their worship, and to be driven in their frenzy to
the working of the greatest crimes. Thus, among other instances,
he told me that a Greek poet named Theocritus sets out in one of
his idyls how a woman called Agave, being engaged in a secret
religious orgie in honour of a demon named Dionysus, perceived her
own son Pentheus watching the celebration of the mysteries, and
thereon becoming possessed by the demon she fell on him and
murdered him, being aided by the other women. For this the poet,
who was also a worshipper of Dionysus, gave her great honour and
not reproach, seeing that she did the deed at the behest of this
god, 'a deed not to be blamed.'
Montezuma's Daughter |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Collection of Antiquities by Honore de Balzac: senior. We shall see how the d'Esgrignon family will escape out of his
clutches."
[*] A trial for an offence of this kind in France is an action brought
by a private person (partie civile) to recover damages, and at the
same time a criminal prosecution conducted on behalf of the
Government.--Tr.
"The d'Esgrignons will defend the case and have counsel from Paris;
they will have Berryer," said Mme. Camusot. "You will have a Roland
for your Oliver."
Du Croisier, M. Sauvager, and the President du Ronceret looked at
Camusot, and one thought troubled their minds. The lady's tone, the
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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 Nana, Miller's Daughter, Captain Burle, Death of Olivier Becaille by Emile Zola: "It is I who am importunate," said the prince, "but, madame, I could
not resist the desire of complimenting you."
Thereupon, in order to reach her dressing table, she walked very
quietly and just as she was through the midst of the gentlemen, who
made way for her to pass.
She had strongly marked hips, which filled her drawers out roundly,
while with swelling bosom she still continued bowing and smiling her
delicate little smile. Suddenly she seemed to recognize Count
Muffat, and she extended her hand to him as an old friend. Then she
scolded him for not having come to her supper party. His Highness
deigned to chaff Muffat about this, and the latter stammered and
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