| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A treatise on Good Works by Dr. Martin Luther: Whether the making of many great books is an art and a benefit
to the Church, I leave others to judge. But I believe that if I
were minded to make great books according to their art, I could,
with God's help, do it more readily perhaps than they could
prepare a little discourse after my fashion. If accomplishment
were as easy as persecution, Christ would long since have been
cast out of heaven again, and God's throne itself overturned.
Although we cannot all be writers, we all want to be critics.
I will most gladly leave to any one else the honor of greater
things, and not be at all ashamed to preach and to write in
German for the unlearned laymen. Although I too have little skill
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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: have astonished Madame de Saint-Remy more than the last
sentence of Montalais.
"What do you say? of Son Altesse Royale Madame Henrietta?"
stammered out the old lady.
"I say I am going to belong to her household, as maid of
honor, that is what I say."
"As maid of honor!" cried, at the same time, Madame de
Saint-Remy with despair, and Mademoiselle de la Valliere
with delight.
"Yes, madame, as maid of honor."
The old lady's head sank down as if the blow had been too
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 Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: with it." This delusion continued through her illness, and so
strongly did it force itself upon her mind, that one morning when
she was on her way to recovery, on waking suddenly and seeing the
doctor bending over her, she exclaimed, "How do the children?"
Now all this time, whilst the shadow of death lay upon the
palace, and laughter and music were no longer heard within its
walls, there was one of its inmates who pondered much upon the
great fortune which the future might have in keeping for her.
This was fair Frances Stuart, who, not having yielded to the
king's request by becoming his mistress, now entertained high
hopes of being made his wife. In this dream she was, moreover,
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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 The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: "At once, if you please."
"And you know who I am, without doubt?"
"I? I am completely ignorant; nor does it much disquiet me."
"You're in the wrong there; for if you knew my name, perhaps you
would not be so pressing."
"What is your name?"
"Bernajoux, at your service."
"Well, then, Monsieur Bernajoux," said D'Artagnan, tranquilly, "I
will wait for you at the door."
"Go, monsieur, I will follow you."
"Do not hurry yourself, monsieur, lest it be observed that we go
The Three Musketeers |
