| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Collection of Antiquities by Honore de Balzac: Vandenesse, the Vicomtesse de Grandlieu, Canalis, and Mme. de Serizy.
"D'Esgrignon and Maufrigneuse are two names that are sure to cling
together," said Mme. de Serizy, who aspired to epigram.
"For some days past she has been out at grass on Platonism," said des
Lupeaulx.
"She will ruin that poor innocent," added Charles de Vandenesse.
"What do you mean?" asked Mlle. des Touches.
"Oh, morally and financially, beyond all doubt," said the Vicomtesse,
rising.
The cruel words were cruelly true for young d'Esgrignon.
Next morning he wrote to his aunt describing his introduction into the
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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 Rescue by Joseph Conrad: feeling of quietude that came about her heart as soft as the
night air penetrated by the feeble clearness of the stars. "This
is a limpid soul," she thought.
"You know I always believed in you," he began again. "You know I
did. Well. I never believed in you so much as I do now, as you
sit there, just as you are, and with hardly enough light to make
you out by."
It occurred to her that she had never heard a voice she liked so
well--except one. But that had been a great actor's voice;
whereas this man was nothing in the world but his very own self.
He persuaded, he moved, he disturbed, he soothed by his inherent
The Rescue |
