| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: her notice?--And did she not suppose her friend might be
glad of some refreshment after so much exercise? Miss
Tilney drew back directly, and the heavy doors were
closed upon the mortified Catherine, who, having seen,
in a momentary glance beyond them, a narrower passage,
more numerous openings, and symptoms of a winding staircase,
believed herself at last within the reach of something
worth her notice; and felt, as she unwillingly paced back
the gallery, that she would rather be allowed to examine
that end of the house than see all the finery of all
the rest. The general's evident desire of preventing
Northanger Abbey |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: rest.
Gaston hung down his head with evident chagrin. He had all
his life been obliged to hear, or rather to undergo this cry
of "Vive le Roi!" which passed over him. For a long time,
being unaccustomed to hear it, his ear had had rest, and now
a younger, more vivacious, and more brilliant royalty rose
up before him, like a new and more painful provocation.
Madame perfectly understood the sufferings of that timid,
gloomy heart; she rose from the table, Monsieur imitated her
mechanically, and all the domestics, with a buzzing like
that of several bee-hives, surrounded Raoul for the purpose
Ten Years Later |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Firm of Nucingen by Honore de Balzac: herself by conquering Europe again; we acted in the interests of the
peace of nations. I slew Rabourdin with a caricature."[*]
[*] See Les Employes [The Government Clerks aka Bureaucracy].
"By RELIGION I do not mean cant; I use the word in its wide political
sense," rejoined Blondet.
"Explain your meaning," said Finot.
"Here it is," returned Blondet. "There has been a good deal said about
affairs at Lyons; about the Republic cannonaded in the streets; well,
there was not a word of truth in it all. The Republic took up the
riots, just as an insurgent snatches up a rifle. The truth is queer
and profound, I can tell you. The Lyons trade is a soulless trade.
|
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 Symposium by Xenophon: loss of beauty through sickness, nor aught else, will diminish their
affection.
[35] Or, "perfection."
[36] Lit. "the boy."
[37] Reading {en para ti poiese}. Al. "come what come may," lit. "no
alteration"; or if reading {parebese} transl. "although his May of
youth should pass, and sickness should mar his features, the tie
of friendship will not be weakened."
If, then, they own a mutual devotion,[38] how can it but be, they will
take delight in gazing each into the other's eyes, hold kindly
converse, trust and be trusted, have forethought for each other, in
The Symposium |
