| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: "Yes, but you must have an account," I said, smiling at her
naivete. "Where are the letters accompanying the subscriptions in
money or in kind? _Pardon_, a little practical advice, Natalie:
it's absolutely necessary to keep those letters. You ought to
number each letter and make a special note of it in a special
record. You ought to do the same with your own letters. But
I will do all that myself."
"Do so, do so . . ." she said.
I was very much pleased with myself. Attracted by this living
interesting work, by the little table, the naive exercise books
and the charm of doing this work in my wife's society, I was
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: to put in a trunk, that he was obliged to go on a journey, that we
were to go away, that it is necessary to have a large trunk for me
and a small one for him, and that all is to be ready in a week
from now, and that we might go to England."
"But this is outrageous!" exclaimed Marius.
It is certain, that, at that moment, no abuse of power, no violence,
not one of the abominations of the worst tyrants, no action of Busiris,
of Tiberius, or of Henry VIII., could have equalled this in atrocity,
in the opinion of Marius; M. Fauchelevent taking his daughter off
to England because he had business there.
He demanded in a weak voice:--
Les Miserables |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Cromwell by William Shakespeare: Officers, look to him, hold him fast.
BAGOT.
The devil ought me a shame, and now hath paid it.
BOWSER.
Is this that Bagot? fellows, bear him hence.
We will not now stand for his reply.
Lade him with Irons; we will have him tried
In England, where his villainies are known.
BAGOT.
Mischief, confusion, light upon you all!
O hang me, drown me, let me kill my self!
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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 Poems of Goethe, Bowring, Tr. by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Perfecting that as a god, which thou didst fail in, as man.
1785.
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TO THE HUSBANDMAN.
SMOOTHLY and lightly the golden seed by the furrow is cover'd;
Yet will a deeper one, friend, cover thy bones at the last.
Joyously plough'd and sow'd! Here food all living is budding,
E'en from the side of the tomb Hope will not vanish away.
1789.*
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ANACREON'S GRAVE.
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