| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Essays of Francis Bacon by Francis Bacon: the remembrance of death. The perpetuity by
generation is common to beasts; but memory,
merit, and noble works, are proper to men. And
surely a man shall see the noblest works and foun-
dations have proceeded from childless men; which
have sought to express the images of their minds,
where those of their bodies have failed. So the care
of posterity is most in them, that have no posterity.
They that are the first raisers of their houses, are
most indulgent towards their children; beholding
them as the continuance, not only of their kind, but
Essays of Francis Bacon |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: to put this plan in execution.
Indeed, it was necessary to act without delay. The Rus-
sian troops from the government of Yakutsk were advanc-
ing towards Irkutsk. They had concentrated along the
upper course of the Lena. In six days they would arrive.
Therefore, before six days had passed, Irkutsk must be be-
trayed. Ogareff hesitated no longer.
One evening, the 2d of October, a council of war was
held in the grand saloon of the palace of the governor-gen-
eral. This palace, standing at the end of Bolchaia Street,
overlooked the river. From its windows could be seen the
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