| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honore de Balzac: in all the business that is placed in my hands."
"I can promise you nothing but my goodwill. What you ask is not in my
power. The privilege of granting pardons is the King's alone, on the
recommendation of the Keeper of the Seals; and the place you wish to
hold is in the gift of the Prefet of Police."
"Monsieur Garnery," the office-boy announced.
At a nod from Monsieur de Granville the Delegate commissioner came in,
glanced at Jacques Collin as one who knows, and gulped down his
astonishment on hearing the word "Go!" spoken to Jacques Collin by
Monsieur de Granville.
"Allow me," said Jacques Collin, "to remain here till Monsieur Garnery
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey: mount severely, though still saving him for a final burst.
Rocks, thickets, bunches of cactus, washes--all operated
against his following a straight line. Almost he lost his
bearings, and finally would have ridden toward his enemies had
not good fortune favored him in the matter of an open
burned-over stretch of ground.
Here he saw both groups of pursuers, one on each side and
almost within gun-shot. Their sharp yells, as much as his cruel
spurs, drove his horse into that pace which now meant life or
death for him. And never had Duane bestrode a gamer, swifter,
stancher beast. He seemed about to accomplish the impossible.
The Lone Star Ranger |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Bronte Sisters: hastily-scribbled returns for the three or four long letters,
hitherto unanswered, he has had from me!
Oh, it is cruel to leave me so long alone! He knows I have no one
but Rachel to speak to, for we have no neighbours here, except the
Hargraves, whose residence I can dimly descry from these upper
windows embosomed among those low, woody hills beyond the Dale. I
was glad when I learnt that Milicent was so near us; and her
company would be a soothing solace to me now; but she is still in
town with her mother; there is no one at the Grove but little
Esther and her French governess, for Walter is always away. I saw
that paragon of manly perfections in London: he seemed scarcely to
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall |
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 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: the outer world: school-rules, school-duties, school-habits and
notions, and voices, and faces, and phrases, and costumes, and
preferences, and antipathies--such was what I knew of existence.
And now I felt that it was not enough; I tired of the routine of
eight years in one afternoon. I desired liberty; for liberty I
gasped; for liberty I uttered a prayer; it seemed scattered on the
wind then faintly blowing. I abandoned it and framed a humbler
supplication; for change, stimulus: that petition, too, seemed
swept off into vague space: "Then," I cried, half desperate, "grant
me at least a new servitude!"
Here a bell, ringing the hour of supper, called me downstairs.
Jane Eyre |
