| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Hero of Our Time by M.Y. Lermontov: hurled down by storm and time, were awaiting
their prey.
The ledge on which we were to fight formed
an almost regular triangle. Six paces were mea-
sured from the projecting corner, and it was de-
cided that whichever had first to meet the fire of
his opponent should stand in the very corner with
his back to the precipice; if he was not killed
the adversaries would change places.
I determined to relinquish every advantage to
Grushnitski; I wanted to test him. A spark of
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: others, for the baseness he stoops to for the love of thee! But
I will not leave the pursuit of thee, once the object of my
purest and most devoted affection, though to me thou canst
henceforth be nothing but a thing to weep over. I will save thee
from thy betrayer, and from thyself; I will restore thee to thy
parent--to thy God. I cannot bid the bright star again sparkle
in the sphere it has shot from, but--"
A slight noise in the apartment interrupted his reverie. He
looked round, and in the beautiful and richly-attired female who
entered at that instant by a side-door he recognized the object
of his search. The first impulse arising from this discovery
Kenilworth |
