| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Two Brothers by Honore de Balzac: Madame Descoings, contrary to the moral of fairy tales, would live
happy ever after without having any children. The pair might therefore
become attached to Agathe.
That young girl, the handsomest maiden in Issoudun, did not resemble
either father or mother. Her birth had caused a lasting breach between
Doctor Rouget and his intimate friend Monsieur Lousteau, a former sub-
delegate who had lately removed from the town. When a family
expatriates itself, the natives of a place as attractive as Issoudun
have a right to inquire into the reasons of so surprising a step. It
was said by certain sharp tongues that Doctor Rouget, a vindictive
man, had been heard to exclaim that Monsieur Lousteau should die by
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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 Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: the terrace two roads, one leading from the east, and one from
the westward, which, crossing a ridge opposed to the eminence on
which the castle stood, at different angles, gradually approached
each other, until they joined not far from the gate of the
avenue. It was to the westward approach that the Lord Keeper,
from a sort of fidgeting anxiety, his daughter, from complaisance
to him, and Ravenswood, though feeling some symptoms of internal
impatience, out of complaisance to his daughter, directed their
eyes to see the precursors of the Marquis's approach.
These were not long of presenting themselves. Two running
footmen, dressed in white, with black jockey-caps, and long
The Bride of Lammermoor |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll: wraps and small articles she was carrying: and Lady Muriel,
after shaking hands and bidding me "Good-night!" with a pleasant smile,
followed him.
It was with a somewhat blank and lonely feeling that I betook myself to
the van from which the luggage was being taken out: and, after giving
directions to have my boxes sent after me, I made my way on foot to
Arthur's lodgings, and soon lost my lonely feeling in the hearty
welcome my old friend gave me, and the cozy warmth and cheerful light
of the little sitting-room into which he led me.
"Little, as you see, but quite enough for us two. Now, take the
easy-chair, old fellow, and let's have another look at you! Well, you
Sylvie and Bruno |
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 Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: his unprotected body, inflicting painful little jabs, and
the boy's tongue was murmuring low-toned taunts and
insults as it invited him to draw and defend himself
or be stuck "like the English pig you are."
Paul of Merely was a brave man and he liked not the
idea of drawing against this stripling, but he argued
that he could quickly disarm him without harming the
lad, and he certainly did not care to be further humili-
ated before his comrades.
But when he had drawn and engaged his youthful
antagonist he discovered that, far from disarming him,
The Outlaw of Torn |
