| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Death of the Lion by Henry James: have forgotten. I told my maid to give it to Lord Dorimont - or at
least to his man.'
"'And Lord Dorimont went away directly after luncheon.'
"'Of course he gave it back to my maid - or else his man did,' said
Lady Augusta. 'I dare say it's all right.'
"The conscience of these people is like a summer sea. They haven't
time to look over a priceless composition; they've only time to
kick it about the house. I suggested that the 'man,' fired with a
noble emulation, had perhaps kept the work for his own perusal; and
her ladyship wanted to know whether, if the thing shouldn't
reappear for the grand occasion appointed by our hostess, the
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: health; and I was happy to conclude, from the excellent
physical condition in which I saw him, that the remedy had
already been attended with very desirable success. He had now
run up from Boston by the noon train, partly impelled by the
friendly regard with which he is pleased to honor me, and
partly, as I soon found, on a matter of literary business.
It delighted me to receive Mr. Bright, for the first time,
under a roof, though a very humble one, which I could really
call my own. Nor did I fail (as is the custom of landed
proprietors all about the world) to parade the poor fellow up
and down over my half a dozen acres; secretly rejoicing,
Tanglewood Tales |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: kissed repeatedly and bathed with tears. He stood fixed and
motionless, excepting that his eyes glanced alternately on the
marble figure and the living suppliant. At length, the large
drops which gathered on his eye-lashes compelled him to draw his
hand across them.
"I thought," he said, "that tears and I had done; but we shed
them at our birth, and their spring dries not until we are in our
graves. But no melting of the heart shall dissolve my
resolution. I part here, at once, and for ever, with all of
which the memory" (looking to the tomb), "or the presence" (he
pressed Isabella's hand), "is dear to me.--Speak not to me!
|
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 Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: Southern States of the Union is invested with a sort of domestic
dictatorship, from his earliest years; the first notion he
acquires in life is that he is born to command, and the first
habit which he contracts is that of being obeyed without
resistance. His education tends, then, to give him the character
of a supercilious and a hasty man; irascible, violent, and ardent
in his desires, impatient of obstacles, but easily discouraged if
he cannot succeed upon his first attempt.
The American of the Northern States is surrounded by no
slaves in his childhood; he is even unattended by free servants,
and is usually obliged to provide for his own wants. No sooner
|
