| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Distinguished Provincial at Paris by Honore de Balzac: A smart maid-servant opened the door. At the sight of Etienne
Lousteau, the dealer in orders and tickets rose from a sturdy chair
before a large cylinder desk, and Lucien beheld the leader of the
claque, Braulard himself, dressed in a gray molleton jacket, footed
trousers, and red slippers; for all the world like a doctor or a
solicitor. He was a typical self-made man, Lucien thought--a vulgar-
looking face with a pair of exceedingly cunning gray eyes, hands made
for hired applause, a complexion over which hard living had passed
like rain over a roof, grizzled hair, and a somewhat husky voice.
"You have come from Mlle. Florine, no doubt, sir, and this gentleman
for Mlle. Coralie," said Braulard; "I know you very well by sight.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: of passion, which -- intermixed in more shapes than one with his
higher, purer, softer qualities -- was, in fact, the portion of
him which the devil claimed, and through which he sought to win
the rest. Never was there a blacker or a fiercer frown than
Hester now encountered. For the brief space that it lasted, it
was a dark transfiguration. But his character had been so much
enfeebled by suffering, that even its lower energies were
incapable of more than a temporary struggle. He sank down on the
ground, and buried his face in his hands.
"I might have known it," murmured he -- "I did know it! Was not
The Scarlet Letter |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The People That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs: occurrences which would be blotted out forever on the morrow.
I cursed myself for the foolish act which had taken me from the
search-party that so depended upon me, and I wondered what
progress, if any, they had made. Were they still beyond the
barrier cliffs, awaiting my return? Or had they found a way
into Caspak? I felt that the latter would be the truth, for
the party was not made up of men easily turned from a purpose.
Quite probable it was that they were already searching for me;
but that they would ever find a trace of me I doubted. Long since,
had I come to the conclusion that it was beyond human prowess
to circle the shores of the inland sea of Caspak in the face
The People That Time Forgot |
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 Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: ships' retreat from the mouth of the shaft. It seemed
that when they had come upon the shaft the navy of the
First Born were already issuing from its mouth. Fully twenty
vessels had emerged, and though they gave battle immediately
in an effort to stem the tide that rolled from the black pit,
the odds against them were too great and they were forced to flee.
With great caution we approached the shaft, under cover
of darkness. At a distance of several miles I caused the
fleet to be halted, and from there Carthoris went ahead alone
upon a one-man flier to reconnoitre. In perhaps half an
hour he returned to report that there was no sign of a patrol
The Gods of Mars |
