| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Vendetta by Honore de Balzac: "And kill him?--"
"Monsieur, permit me--"
There is nothing more horrible than the coolness and precise reasoning
of notaries amid the many passionate scenes in which they are
accustomed to take part.
The forms that Piombo saw about him seemed, to his eyes, escaped from
hell; his repressed and concentrated rage knew no longer any bounds as
the calm and fluted voice of the little notary uttered the words:
"permit me." By a sudden movement he sprang to a dagger that was
hanging to a nail above the fireplace, and rushed toward his daughter.
The younger of the two notaries and one of the witnesses threw
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: than upon strangers. The American has always seen the connection
of public order and public prosperity, intimately united as they
are, go on before his eyes; he does not conceive that one can
subsist without the other; he has therefore nothing to forget;
nor has he, like so many Europeans, to unlearn the lessons of his
early education.
Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic
Republic - Part II
Influence Of The Laws Upon The Maintenance Of The Democratic
Republic In The United States
Three principal causes of the maintenance of the democratic
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from La Grenadiere by Honore de Balzac: the establishment. You can pass from it into the house without going
outside; but, nevertheless, it boasts an entrance door of its own, and
a short flight of steps that brings you to a deep well, and a very
rustical-looking pump, half hidden by water-plants and savin bushes
and tall grasses. The kitchen is a modern addition, proving beyond
doubt that La Grenadiere was originally nothing but a simple
vendangeoir--a vintage-house belonging to townsfolk in Tours, from
which Saint-Cyr is separated by the vast river-bed of the Loire. The
owners only came over for the day for a picnic, or at the vintage-
time, sending provisions across in the morning, and scarcely ever
spent the night there except during the grape harvest; but the English
|
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 Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson: displeased to lie under so great favours to so equivocal a
personage, he was yet unable to restrain his mirth.
With that, Lawless returned to the big chest, and was soon
similarly disguised; but, below his gown, Dick wondered to observe
him conceal a sheaf of black arrows.
"Wherefore do ye that?" asked the lad. "Wherefore arrows, when ye
take no bow?"
"Nay," replied Lawless, lightly, "'tis like there will be heads
broke - not to say backs - ere you and I win sound from where we're
going to; and if any fall, I would our fellowship should come by
the credit on't. A black arrow, Master Dick, is the seal of our
|
