| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Massimilla Doni by Honore de Balzac: finding themselves so unworthy of God, is it not the state of a young
man, as yet unpolluted, in the presence of a mistress he reveres,
while he still feels on his lips the taste of infidelity, and brings
into the sanctuary of the divinity he worships the tainted atmosphere
of the courtesan?
Baader, who in his lectures eliminated things divine by erotic
imagery, had no doubt observed, like some Catholic writers, the
intimate resemblance between human and heavenly love.
This distress of mind cast a hue of melancholy over the pleasure the
young Venetian felt in his mistress' presence. A woman's instinct has
amazing aptitude for harmony of feeling; it assumes the hue, it
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Oscar Wilde Miscellaneous by Oscar Wilde: now clearly what I did not see before. Take me to Alexandria and
let me taste of the seven sins.
MYRRHINA. Do not mock me, Honorius, nor speak to me with such
bitter words. For I have repented of my sins and I am seeking a
cavern in this desert where I too may dwell so that my soul may
become worthy to see God.
HONORIUS. The sun is setting, Myrrhina. Come with me to
Alexandria.
MYRRHINA. I will not go to Alexandria.
HONORIUS. Farewell, Myrrhina.
MYRRHINA. Honorius, farewell. No, no, do not go.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Research Magnificent by H. G. Wells: reckoned without either Prothero or the young lady in this
expectation.
It only got to him slowly through his political preoccupations that
there were obscure obstacles to this manifest course. Prothero
hesitated; the lady expressed doubts.
On closer acquaintance her resemblance to Amanda diminished. It was
chiefly a similarity of complexion. She had a more delicate face
than Amanda, and its youthful brightness was deadened; she had none
of Amanda's glow, and she spoke her mother's language with a pretty
halting limp that was very different from Amanda's clear decisions.
She put her case compactly.
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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 Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: At nightfall, he went to the Rue de l'Ouest, and saw a light
in the windows of the third story.
He walked about beneath the windows until the light was extinguished.
The next day, no one at the Luxembourg. Marius waited all day,
then went and did sentinel duty under their windows. This carried
him on to ten o'clock in the evening.
His dinner took care of itself. Fever nourishes the sick man,
and love the lover.
He spent a week in this manner. M. Leblanc no longer appeared
at the Luxembourg.
Marius indulged in melancholy conjectures; he dared not watch
Les Miserables |
