| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Mansion by Henry van Dyke: "This," said the Keeper of the Gate, standing still and speaking
with
a low, distinct voice--"this is your mansion, John Weightman."
An almost intolerable shock of grieved wonder and indignation
choked the man for a moment so that he could not say a word.
Then he turned his face away from the poor little hut
and began to remonstrate eagerly with his companion.
"Surely, sir," he stammered, "you must be in error about this.
There is something wrong--some other John Weightman--a confusion
of names--the book must be mistaken."
"There is no mistake," said the Keeper of the Gate, very calmly;
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: corpse, so delicate are the weapons that produce it. One would
have to see the two adversaries engage in a direct contest. I have
often tried to place a Tarantula and a Bumble-bee face to face in
the same bottle. The two animals mutually flee each other, each
being as much upset as the other at its captivity. I have kept
them together for twenty-four hours, without aggressive display on
either side. Thinking more of their prison than of attacking each
other, they temporize, as though indifferent. The experiment has
always been fruitless. I have succeeded with Bees and Wasps, but
the murder has been committed at night and has taught me nothing.
I would find both insects, next morning, reduced to a jelly under
The Life of the Spider |
