| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Two Brothers by Honore de Balzac: of all sorts of liquors. Agathe lived in mortal terror for the safety
of the great man of the family. The Grecian sages were too much
accustomed to wend their nightly way up Madame Bridau's staircase,
finding the two widows ready and waiting, and hearing from them all
the news of their day, ever to break up the habit of coming to the
green salon for their game of cards. The ministry of the interior,
though purged of its former employes in 1816, had retained Claparon,
one of those cautious men, who whisper the news of the "Moniteur,"
adding invariably, "Don't quote me." Desroches, who had retired from
active service some time after old Du Bruel, was still battling for
his pension. The three friends, who were witnesses of Agathe's
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: with his house; and he had no troop to help him against God, nor was
he of those who were helped!'
And on the morrow those who had yearned for his place the day before
said, 'Ah, ah! God extends provision to whom He pleases of His
servants, or He doles it out; had not God been gracious to us, the
earth would have cleft open with us! Ah, ah! the unbelievers shall not
prosper!
That is the future abode; we make it for those who do not wish to be
haughty in the earth, nor to do evil, and the end is for the pious.
He who brings a good deed shall have better than it; and he who
brings an evil deed-those who do evil deeds shall only be rewarded for
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Duchesse de Langeais by Honore de Balzac: "If that is how your Court and your Government think, I am sorry
for you," broke in Montriveau. "The Restoration, madam, ought
to say, like Catherine de Medici, when she heard that the battle
of Dreux was lost, `Very well; now we will go to the
meeting-house.' Now 1815 was your battle of Dreux. Like the
royal power of those days, you won in fact, while you lost in
right. Political Protestantism has gained an ascendancy over
people's minds. If you have no mind to issue your Edict of
Nantes; or if, when it is issued, you publish a Revocation; if
you should one day be accused and convicted of repudiating the
Charter, which is simply a pledge given to maintain the interests
|
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 Kenilworth by Walter Scott: ladyship, I have interest enough to have him exchanged for a
seneschal that shall be more agreeable to you."
"Master Varney," said the Countess, "let us drop this theme.
When I complain of the attendants whom my lord has placed around
me, it must be to my lord himself.--Hark! I hear the trampling
of horse. He comes! he comes!" she exclaimed, jumping up in
ecstasy.
"I cannot think it is he," said Varney; "or that you can hear the
tread of his horse through the closely-mantled casements."
"Stop me not, Varney--my ears are keener than thine. It is he!"
"But, madam!--but, madam!" exclaimed Varney anxiously, and still
Kenilworth |
