| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Pierrette by Honore de Balzac: "She must be hurt," said Desfondrilles.
"She deserves it," replied Sylvie.
"It was a bad blow," said Mademoiselle Habert.
Sylvie thought she might escape paying her /misere/ if she went to see
after Pierrette, but Madame de Chargeboeuf stopped her.
"Pay us first," she said, laughing; "you will forget it when you come
back."
The remark, based on the old maid's trickery and her bad faith in
paying her debts at cards was approved by the others. Sylvie sat down
and thought no more of Pierrette,--an indifference which surprised no
one. When the game was over, about half past nine o'clock, she flung
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: strengthen ourselves against it, and let this be our first prayer;
then, indeed, we shall have all else in abundance, as Christ teaches
[Matt. 6, 33]: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto you. For how could He allow us
to suffer want and to be straitened in temporal things when He promises
that which is eternal and imperishable?
The Third Petition.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Thus far we have prayed that God's name be honored by us, and that His
kingdom prevail among us; in which two points is comprehended all that
|
