| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Hero of Our Time by M.Y. Lermontov: single word. At times the noise of songs and the
buzz of voices, escaping from the hut, drowned
the conversation which I was finding interesting.
"'That's a splendid horse of yours,' Azamat
was saying. 'If I were master of a house of my
own and had a stud of three hundred mares, I
would give half of it for your galloper,
Kazbich!'
"'Aha! Kazbich!' I said to myself, and I
called to mind the coat of mail.
"'Yes,' replied Kazbich, after an interval of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: To beg your pardon: pardon I beseech you,
Henceforward I am euer rul'd by you
Cap. Send for the Countie, goe tell him of this,
Ile haue this knot knit vp to morrow morning
Iul. I met the youthfull Lord at Lawrence Cell,
And gaue him what becomed Loue I might,
Not stepping ore the bounds of modestie
Cap. Why I am glad on't, this is well, stand vp,
This is as't should be, let me see the County:
I marrie go I say, and fetch him hither.
Now afore God, this reueren'd holy Frier,
Romeo and Juliet |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Heap O' Livin' by Edgar A. Guest: There's a heap of pent-up goodness............ 84
There's a lot of joy in the smiling world..... 40
There's a wondrous smell of spices............ 66
There's nothing that builds up a toil-weary
soul........................................ 102
There was a bear -- his name was Jim.......... 134
The skies are blue and the sun is out......... 78
The sumac's flaming scarlet................... 136
The things that haven't been done before...... 172
The things that make a soldier great.......... 114
The world's too busy now to pause............. 92
A Heap O' Livin' |
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 An Old Maid by Honore de Balzac: of my old schoolmates; Monsieur de Troisville, my niece, Mademoiselle
Cormon."
"Ah! that good uncle; how well he does it!" thought Rose-Marie-
Victoire.
The Vicomte de Troisville was, to paint him in two words, du Bousquier
ennobled. Between the two men there was precisely the difference which
separates the vulgar style from the noble style. If they had both been
present, the most fanatic liberal would not have denied the existence
of aristocracy. The viscount's strength had all the distinction of
elegance; his figure had preserved its magnificent dignity. He had
blue eyes, black hair, an olive skin, and looked to be about forty-six
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