| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: this world beguile you, and let not the beguiler beguile you
concerning God. Verily, the devil is to you a foe, so take him as a
foe; he only calls his crew to be the fellows of the blaze.
Those who misbelieve, for them is keen torment.
But those who believe and do right, for them is forgiveness and a
great hire.
What! is he whose evil act is made seemly for him, so that he
looks upon it as good,--? Verily, God leads astray whom He pleases and
guides whom He pleases; let not thy soul then be wasted in sighing for
them; verily, God knows what they do!
It is God who sends the winds, and they stir up a cloud, and we
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from La Grande Breteche by Honore de Balzac: call on her. She was already very much altered when she left la Grande
Breteche to go to Merret. That dear lady--I say dear lady, for it was
she who gave me this diamond, but indeed I saw her but once--that kind
lady was very ill; she had, no doubt, given up all hope, for she died
without choosing to send for a doctor; indeed, many of our ladies
fancied she was not quite right in her head. Well, sir, my curiosity
was strangely excited by hearing that Madame de Merret had need of my
services. Nor was I the only person who took an interest in the
affair. That very night, though it was already late, all the town knew
that I was going to Merret.
" 'The waiting-woman replied but vaguely to the questions I asked her
La Grande Breteche |
