| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Adieu by Honore de Balzac: "All?"
"Yes, all; seems as if horse-meat must be indigestible if eaten with
snow."
The words made Philippe tremble. The cold was increasing.
"My God! to lose the woman I have saved a dozen times!"
The major shook the countess.
"Stephanie! Stephanie!"
The young woman opened her eyes.
"Madame! we are saved."
"Saved!" she repeated, sinking down again.
The horses were harnessed as best they could. The major, holding his
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: shall profit the confessors, for them are gardens beneath which rivers
flow, to dwell therein for ever and for aye.'
God is well pleased with them, and they well pleased with Him;
that is the mighty happiness.
God's is the kingdom of the heavens, and the earth, and all that
is therein, and He is mighty over all.
THE CHAPTER OF CATTLE
(VI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate, God!
Praise belongs to God who created the heavens and the earth, and
brought into being the darkness and the light. Yet do those who
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Don Quixote by Miquel de Cervantes: upon a little meadow at the foot of some high rocks, down which a
mighty rush of water flung itself. At the foot of the rocks were
some rudely constructed houses looking more like ruins than houses,
from among which came, they perceived, the din and clatter of blows,
which still continued without intermission. Rocinante took fright at
the noise of the water and of the blows, but quieting him Don
Quixote advanced step by step towards the houses, commending himself
with all his heart to his lady, imploring her support in that dread
pass and enterprise, and on the way commending himself to God, too,
not to forget him. Sancho who never quitted his side, stretched his
neck as far as he could and peered between the legs of Rocinante to
Don Quixote |
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 A Passion in the Desert by Honore de Balzac: meal she licked his boots with her powerful rough tongue, brushing off
with marvelous skill the dust gathered in the creases.
"Ah, but when she's really hungry!" thought the Frenchman. In spite of
the shudder this thought caused him, the soldier began to measure
curiously the proportions of the panther, certainly one of the most
splendid specimens of its race. She was three feet high and four feet
long without counting her tail; this powerful weapon, rounded like a
cudgel, was nearly three feet long. The head, large as that of a
lioness, was distinguished by a rare expression of refinement. The
cold cruelty of a tiger was dominant, it was true, but there was also
a vague resemblance to the face of a sensual woman. Indeed, the face
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