| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Domestic Peace by Honore de Balzac: only by a smile of some uneasiness, for she had seen the Colonel
examining the lawyer's ring.
"Listen to me, Martial. If you flutter round my young stranger, I
shall set to work to win Madame de Vaudremont."
"You have my full permission, my dear Cuirassier, but you will not
gain this much," and the young Maitre des Requetes put his polished
thumb-nail under an upper tooth with a little mocking click.
"Remember that I am unmarried," said the Colonel; "that my sword is my
whole fortune; and that such a challenge is setting Tantalus down to a
banquet which he will devour."
"Prrr."
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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 Lesson of the Master by Henry James: celebrated people."
"So I should think - but surely it isn't new to you."
"Why I've never seen any one - any one: living always in Asia."
The way she talked of Asia somehow enchanted him. "But doesn't
that continent swarm with great figures? Haven't you administered
provinces in India and had captive rajahs and tributary princes
chained to your car?"
It was as if she didn't care even SHOULD he amuse himself at her
cost. "I was with my father, after I left school to go out there.
It was delightful being with him - we're alone together in the
world, he and I - but there was none of the society I like best.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence: man was sharing her last and final nakedness, she was shameless.
What liars poets and everybody were! They made one think one wanted
sentiment. When what one supremely wanted was this piercing, consuming,
rather awful sensuality. To find a man who dared do it, without shame
or sin or final misgiving! If he had been ashamed afterwards, and made
one feel ashamed, how awful! What a pity most men are so doggy, a bit
shameful, like Clifford! Like Michaelis even! Both sensually a bit
doggy and humiliating. The supreme pleasure of the mind! And what is
that to a woman? What is it, really, to the man either! He becomes
merely messy and doggy, even in his mind. It needs sheer sensuality
even to purify and quicken the mind. Sheer fiery sensuality, not
Lady Chatterley's Lover |
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 Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne: robber arrested three days ago--you are free!"
Phileas Fogg was free! He walked to the detective, looked him steadily
in the face, and with the only rapid motion he had ever made in his life,
or which he ever would make, drew back his arms, and with the precision
of a machine knocked Fix down.
"Well hit!" cried Passepartout, "Parbleu! that's what
you might call a good application of English fists!"
Fix, who found himself on the floor, did not utter a word.
He had only received his deserts. Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout
left the Custom House without delay, got into a cab, and in a few
moments descended at the station.
Around the World in 80 Days |
