| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Stories From the Old Attic by Robert Harris: The king, immediately concluding that the sanctity of his marriage
bed had been violated, exploded into a rage that would likely have
ended the queen's suffering prematurely had she not added as loudly
as she could, "And I am not his mother." The king then, though
still in shock, calmed himself enough to hear her explanation of the
death of their natural son and her subterfuge in adopting the child
who was now the prince. The king at first gave little credit to
this tale, thinking that the queen was either delirious or scheming
against him and his beloved son in some way. But he sent attendants
to the holy order to discover the truth. They soon returned with the
matron of the house and the woman who had nursed the prince as a baby.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Redheaded Outfield by Zane Grey: every bound. It was here, there, everywhere.
And it became an infernal ball. It became
endowed with a fiendish propensity to run up a
player's leg and all about him, as if trying to hide
in his pocket. Grace's efforts to find it were
heartbreaking to watch. Every time it bounded
out to center field, which was of frequent
occurrence, Tom would fall on it and hug it as if he
were trying to capture a fleeing squirrel. Tay
Tay Mohler could stop the ball, but that was no
great credit to him, for his hands took no part in
The Redheaded Outfield |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Purse by Honore de Balzac: After a short lapse of time he perceived that the old lady and
her daughter were playing cards with the old gentleman. As to the
satellite, faithful to his function as a shadow, he stood behind
his friend's chair watching his game, and answering the player's
mute inquiries by little approving nods, repeating the
questioning gestures of the other countenance.
"Du Halga, I always lose," said the gentleman.
"You discard badly," replied the Baronne de Rouville.
"For three months now I have never won a single game," said he.
"Have you the aces?" asked the old lady.
"Yes, one more to mark," said he.
|
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 Hated Son by Honore de Balzac: shuddered at feeling himself the centre to which all eyes turned.
"Do not tremble," said the duke, bending his bald head to his son's
ear; "these people are only our servants."
Through the dusky light produced by the setting sun, the rays of which
were reddening the leaded panes of the windows, Etienne saw the
bailiff, the captain and lieutenant of the guard, with certain of
their men-at-arms, the chaplain, the secretaries, the doctor, the
majordomo, the ushers, the steward, the huntsmen, the game-keeper, the
grooms, and the valets. Though all these people stood in respectful
attitudes, induced by the terror the old man inspired in even the most
important persons under his command, a low murmur, caused by curiosity
|
