| 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: crushing its endless frills of white tulle. After a laughing side
glance at her old father's troubled face, she broke silence.
"I never heard you say, my dear father, that the Government issued its
instructions in its dressing-gown. However," and she smiled, "that
does not matter; the mob are probably not particular. Now, what are
your proposals for legislation, and your official introductions?"
"I shall not always be able to make them, headstrong girl!--Listen,
Emilie. It is my intention no longer to compromise my reputation,
which is part of my children's fortune, by recruiting the regiment of
dancers which, spring after spring, you put to rout. You have already
been the cause of many dangerous misunderstandings with certain
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: rather in malice be a child, but have thy mind settled and made
steadfast toward that which is good, and walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith thou wast called, in the keeping of the
commandments of the Lord, casting off and putting far from thee
the vanity of thy former conversation, henceforth walking not as
the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, having their
understanding darkened, alienated from the glory of God, in
subjection to their lusts and unreasonable affections. But as
for thee, even as thou hast approached the living and true God,
so walk thou as a child of light; for the fruit of the Spirit is
in all goodness and righteousness and truth; and no longer
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane: ing. He stretched out with a murmur of relief
and comfort. The ground felt like the softest
couch.
But of a sudden he ejaculated: "Hol' on a
minnit! Where you goin' t' sleep?"
His friend waved his hand impatiently.
"Right down there by yeh."
"Well, but hol' on a minnit," continued the
youth. "What yeh goin' t' sleep in? I've got
your--"
The loud young soldier snarled: "Shet up
The Red Badge of Courage |
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 The Amazing Interlude by Mary Roberts Rinehart: in the quiet summer afternoons when the sun shone down on the lifeless
street be fore the little house.
"I'm afraid we have bad news for you." Mrs. Travers put down her
untasted tea. "Or rather, we have no news. Of course," she added,
seeing Sara Lee's eyes, "in this war no news may be the best - that is,
he may be a prisoner."
"That," Sara Lee heard herself say, "is impossible. If they captured
him they would shoot him."
Mrs. Travers nodded silently. They knew Henri's business, too, by that
time, and that there was no hope for a captured spy.
"And - Jean?"
|
