| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: when, enveloped in his mantle, he surprised us as we sat at our lamp, who
busied herself in receiving him, while I remained, lost in astonishment, as
if fastened to my chair?
Mother. Could I imagine that the prudent Clara would so soon be carried
away by this unhappy love? I must now endure that my daughter--
Clara (bursting into tears). Mother! How can you? You take pleasure in
tormenting me!
Mother (weeping). Ay, weep away! Make me yet more wretched by thy
grief. Is it not misery enough that my only daughter is a castaway?
Clara (rising, and speaking coldly). A castaway! The beloved of Egmont a
castaway!--What princess would not envy the poor Clara a place in his
Egmont |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: Milady began to have doubts of the issue of this terrible duel, in which
her enemies showed as much perseverance as she did animosity.
Besides, she felt as we feel when a storm is coming on--that this issue
was near, and could not fail to be terrible.
The principal thing for her, then, was, as we have said, to keep Mme.
Bonacieux in her power. Mme. Bonacieux was the very life of D'Artagnan.
This was more than his life, the life of the woman he loved; this was,
in case of ill fortune, a means of temporizing and obtaining good
conditions.
Now, this point was settled; Mme. Bonacieux, without any suspicion,
accompanied her. Once concealed with her at Armentieres, it would be
The Three Musketeers |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Bunner Sisters by Edith Wharton: "Oh, the Dutch washerwoman is it--her that used to live here?
She's been gone two months and more. It's Mike McNulty lives here
now. Whisht!" to the baby, who had squared his mouth for a howl.
Ann Eliza's knees grew weak. "Mrs. Hochmuller gone? But
where has she gone? She must be somewhere round here. Can't you
tell me?"
"Sure an' I can't," said the woman. "She wint away before
iver we come."
"Dalia Geoghegan, will ye bring the choild in out av the
cowld?" cried an irate voice from within.
"Please wait--oh, please wait," Ann Eliza insisted. "You see
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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 Under the Andes by Rex Stout: shall be. Come--why not? I hinder you and become bored with
myself."
"You blame me," he said bitterly; "but I tell you you don't
know. Very well--we stay. You must give me your promise not to
act the fool."
"In any event, you must go soon," I answered, "or starve to
death. Perhaps in another twenty-four hours I shall be stronger.
Come, Desiree; will that satisfy you?"
She did not answer; her back was turned to us as she stood
gazing across the stream into the depths of the cavern. There was
a curious tenseness in her attitude that made me follow her gaze,
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