| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Ball at Sceaux by Honore de Balzac: Maximilien Longueville, to whom Clara had communicated her not
unfounded suspicions as to Emilie's character, was by turns carried
away by the violence of a young man's passion, and held back by a wish
to know and test the woman to whom he would be entrusting his
happiness. His love had not hindered him from perceiving in Emilie the
prejudices which marred her young nature; but before attempting to
counteract them, he wished to be sure that she loved him, for he would
no sooner risk the fate of his love than of his life. He had,
therefore, persistently kept a silence to which his looks, his
behavior, and his smallest actions gave the lie.
On her side, the self-respect natural to a young girl, augmented in
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: Porthos replied that in all probability his sprain would not
permit him to depart yet awhile. Besides, it was necessary he
should stay at Chantilly to wait for the answer from his duchess.
D'Artagnan wished that answer might be prompt and favorable; and
having again recommended Porthos to the care of Mousqueton, and
paid his bill to the host, he resumed his route with Planchet,
already relieved of one of his led horses.
26 ARAMIS AND HIS THESIS
D'Artagnan had said nothing to Porthos of his wound or of his
procurator's wife. Our Bernais was a prudent lad, however young
he might be. Consequently he had appeared to believe all that
The Three Musketeers |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Call of the Canyon by Zane Grey: "Carley, you're a real sport," declared Glenn, with the rare smile she
loved. "It's a dreadful mess. And to think you stood it! . . . Why, old
Fifth Avenue, if you needed to make another hit with me you've done it!"
His warmth amazed and pleased Carley. She could not quite understand why it
would have made any difference to him whether she had stood the ordeal or
not. But then every day she seemed to drift a little farther from a real
understanding of her lover. His praise gladdened her, and fortified her to
face the rest of this ride back to Oak Creek.
Four hours later, in a twilight so shadowy that no one saw her distress,
Carley half slipped and half fell from her horse and managed somehow to
mount the steps and enter the bright living room. A cheerful red fire
The Call of the Canyon |
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 Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: are ended, we will dub him knight with our own hands. And now,
Mackworth, and thou my Lord Count, let us walk a little; I have
bethought me further concerning these threescore extra men for
Dauphiny."
Then Myles withdrew, under the charge of Lord George and the
Sieur de la Montaigne and while the King and the two nobles
walked slowly up and down the gravel path between the tall rose-
bushes, Myles stood talking with the gentlemen attendants,
finding himself, with a certain triumphant exultation, the peer
of any and the hero of the hour.
That night was the last that Myles and Gascoyne spent lodging in
Men of Iron |
