| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from At the Sign of the Cat & Racket by Honore de Balzac: old place at the desk. The unhappy young woman met her brother-in-law
with his pen behind his ear; he hardly listened to her, he was so full
of business. The formidable symptoms of stock-taking were visible all
round him; he begged her to excuse him. She was received coldly enough
by her sister, who owed her a grudge. In fact, Augustine, in her
finery, and stepping out of a handsome carriage, had never been to see
her but when passing by. The wife of the prudent Lebas, imagining that
want of money was the prime cause of this early call, tried to keep up
a tone of reserve which more than once made Augustine smile. The
painter's wife perceived that, apart from the cap and lappets, her
mother had found in Virginie a successor who could uphold the ancient
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: unjust have no helpers. If ye display your almsgiving, then well is
it; but if ye hide it and bring it to the poor, then is it better
for you, and will expiate for you your evil deeds; for God of what
ye do is well aware.
Thou art not bound to guide them; but God guides whom He will; and
whatever good ye expend it is for yourselves, and do not expend save
craving for God's face.
And what ye expend of good, it shall be repaid you, and ye shall not
be wronged,- unto the poor who are straitened in God's way, and cannot
knock about in the earth. The ignorant think them to be rich because
of their modesty; you will know them by their mark, they do not beg
The Koran |
