| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne: gold had been touch'd up, and upon the whole was rather showy than
otherwise; - and as the blue was not violent, it suited with the
coat and breeches very well: he had squeez'd out of the money,
moreover, a new bag and a solitaire; and had insisted with the
FRIPIER upon a gold pair of garters to his breeches knees. - He had
purchased muslin ruffles, BIEN BRODEES, with four livres of his own
money; - and a pair of white silk stockings for five more; - and to
top all, nature had given him a handsome figure, without costing
him a sous.
He entered the room thus set off, with his hair dressed in the
first style, and with a handsome bouquet in his breast. - In a
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Ursula by Honore de Balzac: with beak and claw, flocked in with the celerity of birds of prey.
CHAPTER XV
THE DOCTOR'S WILL
While these events were taking place the post master had hurried home
to open the mysterious package and know its contents.
To my dear Ursula Mirouet, daughter of my natural half-brother,
Joseph Mirouet, and Dinah Grollman:--
My dear Angel,--The fatherly affection I bear you--and which you
have so fully justified--came not only from the promise I gave
your father to take his place, but also from your resemblance to
my wife, Ursula Mirouet, whose grace, intelligence, frankness, and
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: surprise at the disappearance of the dead body and the offerings. But the
master of the house said to Muso:--
"Reverent Sir, you have probably seen unpleasant things during the night:
all of us were anxious about you. But now we are very happy to find you
alive and unharmed. Gladly we would have stayed with you, if it had been
possible. But the law of our village, as I told you last evening, obliges
us to quit our houses after a death has taken place, and to leave the
corpse alone. Whenever this law has been broken, heretofore, some great
misfortune has followed. Whenever it is obeyed, we find that the corpse and
the offerings disappear during our absence. Perhaps you have seen the
cause."
Kwaidan |
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 Lily of the Valley by Honore de Balzac: personages, illustrious by rank, prominent by fortune, came from all
parts of Europe to the capital of the intellect, where the merits and
the vices of other countries were found magnified and whetted by the
charms of French intellect.
Five months after leaving Clochegourde my good angel wrote me, in the
middle of the winter, a despairing letter, telling me of the serious
illness of her son. He was then out of danger, but there were many
fears for the future; the doctor said that precautions were necessary
for his lungs--the suggestion of a terrible idea which had put the
mother's heart in mourning. Hardly had Jacques begun to convalesce,
and she could breathe again, when Madeleine made them all uneasy. That
The Lily of the Valley |
