| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Another Study of Woman by Honore de Balzac: Napoleon completely."
"But all that does not explain what is meant by a lady!" the young
Pole exclaimed, with some impatience.
"Well, I will tell you," said Emile Blondet to Count Adam. "One fine
morning you go for a saunter in Paris. It is past two, but five has
not yet struck. You see a woman coming towards you; your first glance
at her is like the preface to a good book, it leads you to expect a
world of elegance and refinement. Like a botanist over hill and dale
in his pursuit of plants, among the vulgarities of Paris life you have
at last found a rare flower. This woman is attended by two very
distinguished-looking men, of whom one, at any rate, wears an order;
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: Retribution followed me; and I long remained a fugitive in the land. Now I
often pray that I may be able to make some atonement for the evil which I
did, and to reestablish the ancestral home. But I fear that I shall never
find any way of so doing. Nevertheless, I try to overcome the karma of my
errors by sincere repentance, and by helping as afar as I can, those who
are unfortunate."
Kwairyo was pleased by this announcement of good resolve; and he said to
the aruji:--
"My friend, I have had occasion to observe that man, prone to folly in
their youth, may in after years become very earnest in right living. In the
holy sutras it is written that those strongest in wrong-doing can become,
Kwaidan |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tales of the Klondyke by Jack London: things, but still, you know, I can't give him up."
Hay Stockard paused, striving to put into speech the rude ethics
of his heart.
"He's worried me, Baptiste, in the past and now, and caused me all
manner of troubles; but can't you see, he's my own breed--white--
and--and--why, I couldn't buy my life with his, not if he was a
nigger."
"So be it," Baptiste the Red made answer. "I have given you grace
and choice. I shall come presently, with my priests and fighting
men, and either shall I kill you, or you deny your god. Give up
the priest to my pleasure, and you shall depart in peace.
|
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 Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: with the Chevalier de Lorraine, and they had ceased to hear
the rustling of the cardinal's silk robe from behind the
curtain. His eminence had followed Bernouin into the closet
adjoining the bedroom.
CHAPTER 40
An Affair of State
The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte
de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in admiring a
very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with
plate. His eminence came in softly, lightly, and silently as
a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he
Ten Years Later |
