| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin: will not have sufficed for so great an amount of organic change, all
changes having been effected very slowly through natural selection. It is
hardly possible for me even to recall to the reader, who may not be a
practical geologist, the facts leading the mind feebly to comprehend the
lapse of time. He who can read Sir Charles Lyell's grand work on the
Principles of Geology, which the future historian will recognise as having
produced a revolution in natural science, yet does not admit how
incomprehensibly vast have been the past periods of time, may at once close
this volume. Not that it suffices to study the Principles of Geology, or
to read special treatises by different observers on separate formations,
and to mark how each author attempts to give an inadequate idea of the
On the Origin of Species |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac: Eugene lingered over his toilette with an enjoyment of all its
little details that is grateful to a young man's self-love,
though he will not own to it for fear of being laughed at. He
thought, as he arranged his hair, that a pretty woman's glances
would wander through the dark curls. He indulged in childish
tricks like any young girl dressing for a dance, and gazed
complacently at his graceful figure while he smoothed out the
creases of his coat.
"There are worse figures, that is certain," he said to himself.
Then he went downstairs, just as the rest of the household were
sitting down to dinner, and took with good humor the boisterous
Father Goriot |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Of The Nature of Things by Lucretius: Yes she, her wretched self with vile perfumes;
Whom even her handmaids flee and giggle at
Behind her back. But he, the lover, in tears
Because shut out, covers her threshold o'er
Often with flowers and garlands, and anoints
Her haughty door-posts with the marjoram,
And prints, poor fellow, kisses on the doors-
Admitted at last, if haply but one whiff
Got to him on approaching, he would seek
Decent excuses to go out forthwith;
And his lament, long pondered, then would fall
Of The Nature of Things |
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 White Moll by Frank L. Packard: was over, if the end had come, there remained only one thing for her
to do. There were no risks too desperate to take now. It was she
who must strike, and strike first. Those jewels in old Luertz's
bedroom became suddenly vital to her. They were tangible evidence.
With those jewels in her possession she should be able to force
Danglar to his knees. She could get them - before Pinkie Bonn and
the Pug - if she hurried. Afterward she would know where to find
Danglar - at the Silver Sphinx. Nothing would happen to Cloran,
because, through her failure to cooperate, the plan would be
abortive; but, veiled, as the White Moll, she could pick up Danglar's
trail again there. Yes, it would be the end - one way or the other
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