| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I described, and
enforced them earnestly. But, however this remonstrance might
have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not suppose
that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it not
been seconded by the assurance that I hesitated not in giving, of
your sister's indifference. He had before believed her to return
his affection with sincere, if not with equal regard. But Bingley
has great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my
judgement than on his own. To convince him, therefore, that he
had deceived himself, was no very difficult point. To persuade
him against returning into Hertfordshire, when that conviction
Pride and Prejudice |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson: changed that you no longer recognise Prince Florizel in Mr.
Godall?'
'To be sure!' she cried, looking at him through her glasses.
'I have always regarded your Highness as a perfect man; and
in your altered circumstances, of which I have already heard
with deep regret, I will beg you to consider my respect
increased instead of lessened.'
'I have found it so,' returned the Prince, 'with every class
of my acquaintance. But, madam, I pray you to be seated. My
business is of a delicate order, and regards your daughter.'
'In that case,' said Mrs. Luxmore, 'you may save yourself the
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan by Honore de Balzac: between Daniel and his friends, when Madame d'Espard asked Rastignac
and Blondet to induce d'Arthez to come and dine with her, telling them
that the Princesse de Cadignan had a great desire to see that
celebrated man. Such curiosities are to certain women what magic
lanterns are to children,--a pleasure to the eyes, but rather shallow
and full of disappointments. The more sentiments a man of talent
excites at a distance, the less he responds to them on nearer view;
the more brilliant fancy has pictured him, the duller he will seem in
reality. Consequently, disenchanted curiosity is often unjust.
Neither Blondet nor Rastignac could deceive d'Arthez; but they told
him, laughing, that they now offered him a most seductive opportunity
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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 The Lily of the Valley by Honore de Balzac: gardens.
"Monsieur--" said his wife.
"Well, what, my dear?" he said, turning to her with an arrogant
harshness which showed plainly enough how absolute he chose to be in
his own home.
"Monsieur de Vandenesse walked from Tours this morning and Monsieur de
Chessel, not aware of it, has already taken him on foot over
Frapesle."
"Very imprudent of you," the count said, turning to me; "but at your
age--" and he shook his head in sign of regret.
The conversation was resumed. I soon saw how intractable his royalism
The Lily of the Valley |
