| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: upon the hand of this singular young woman rather awkwardly. "As for
you, friend," he said, threatening the young man with his finger, "you
have had a narrow escape this time."
"Commandant," said the youth, "it is time all this nonsense should
cease; I am ready to go with you, if you like, to headquarters."
"And bring your invisible owl, Marche-a-Terre?"
"Who is Marche-a-Terre?" asked the young man, showing all the signs of
genuine surprise.
"Didn't he hoot just now?"
"What did that hooting have to do with me, I should like to know? I
supposed it was your soldiers letting you know of their arrival."
The Chouans |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: not the case), and in an hour or two, without labor, but as a
recreation, I could, if I wished, catch as many fish as I should
want for two days, or earn enough money to support me a week. If he
and his family would live simply, they might all go a-huckleberrying
in the summer for their amusement. John heaved a sigh at this, and
his wife stared with arms a-kimbo, and both appeared to be wondering
if they had capital enough to begin such a course with, or
arithmetic enough to carry it through. It was sailing by dead
reckoning to them, and they saw not clearly how to make their port
so; therefore I suppose they still take life bravely, after their
fashion, face to face, giving it tooth and nail, not having skill to
Walden |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: came up boldly, and now that he was by her side, she felt his
nearness intimately, like a touch. She tried to disregard this
sensation. But she was not angry with him now. It wasn't worth
while. She was thankful that he had the sense not to ask questions
as to this crying. Of course he didn't ask because he didn't care.
No one in the world cared for her, neither those who pretended nor
yet those who did not pretend. She preferred the latter.
Captain Anthony opened for her a gate into another field; when they
got through he kept walking abreast, elbow to elbow almost. His
voice growled pleasantly in her very ear. Staying in this dull
place was enough to give anyone the blues. His sister scribbled all
Chance |
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 Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: new wonder, that two antagonists almost always divine each other's
inmost thoughts and ideas. Two enemies sometimes possess a power of
clear insight into mental processes, and read each other's minds as
two lovers read in either soul. So when we came together, the Countess
and I, I understood at once the reason of her antipathy for me,
disguised though it was by the most gracious forms of politeness and
civility. I had been forced to be her confidant, and a woman cannot
but hate the man before whom she is compelled to blush. And she on her
side knew that if I was the man in whom her husband placed confidence,
that husband had not as yet given up his fortune.
"I will spare you the conversation, but it abides in my memory as one
Gobseck |
