| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: sitting under this tree with two of his friends, fellow-goshi, chatting and
drinking wine, when he felt all of a sudden very drowsy,-- so drowsy that
he begged his friends to excuse him for taking a nap in their presence.
Then he lay down at the foot of the tree, and dreamed this dream:--
He thought that as he was lying there in his garden, he saw a procession,
like the train of some great daimyo descending a hill near by, and that he
got up to look at it. A very grand procession it proved to be,-- more
imposing than anything of the kind which he had ever seen before; and it
was advancing toward his dwelling. He observed in the van of it a number of
young men richly appareled, who were drawing a great lacquered
palace-carriage, or gosho-guruma, hung with bright blue silk. When the
Kwaidan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: receive, and the generaless does not receive either. She is just
going to drive out."
Nekhludoff took out Katerina Ivanovna's letter, and going up to a
table on which lay a visitors' book, began to write that he was
sorry not to have been able to see any one; when the footman went
up the staircase the doorkeeper went out and shouted to the
coachman, and the orderly stood up rigid with his arms at his
sides following with his eyes a little, slight lady, who was
coming down the stairs with rapid steps not in keeping with all
the grandeur.
Mariette had a large hat on, with feathers, a black dress and
Resurrection |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Catherine de Medici by Honore de Balzac: at the burning of heretics," said Mary Stuart.
"The kings who reigned before me did as they thought best, and I
choose to do as I please," said the little king.
"Philip the Second," remarked Catherine, "who is certainly a great
king, lately postponed an /auto da fe/ until he could return from the
Low Countries to Valladolid."
"What do you think, cousin?" said the king to Prince de Conde.
"Sire, you cannot avoid it, and the papal nuncio and all the
ambassadors should be present. I shall go willingly, as these ladies
take part in the fete."
Thus the Prince de Conde, at a glance from Catherine de' Medici,
|
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 Master Key by L. Frank Baum: "I'll drop down and pick a bouquet," he exclaimed, and a few moments
later his feet touched the firm earth of the island.
But before he could gather a dozen of the brilliant flowers a glad
shout reached his ears, and, looking up, he saw two men running towards
him from the trees.
They were dressed in sailor fashion, but their clothing was reduced to
rags and scarcely clung to their brown, skinny bodies. As they advanced
they waved their arms wildly in the air and cried in joyful tones:
"A boat! a boat!"
Rob stared at them wonderingly, and had much ado to prevent the poor
fellows from hugging him outright, so great was their joy at his
The Master Key |
