| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Domestic Peace by Honore de Balzac: emotion,--the Dowager, one of the most clear-sighted and mischief-
loving duchesses bequeathed by the eighteenth century to the
nineteenth, could read her heart and mind through it all.
The old lady seemed to detect the slightest movement that revealed the
impressions of the soul. The imperceptible frown that furrowed that
calm, pure forehead, the faintest quiver of the cheeks, the curve of
the eyebrows, the least curl of the lips, whose living coral could
conceal nothing from her,--all these were to the Duchess like the
print of a book. From the depths of her large arm-chair, completely
filled by the flow of her dress, the coquette of the past, while
talking to a diplomate who had sought her out to hear the anecdotes
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: priest, you have no fear of demons or evil spirits; and, if you are not
afraid of being left alone with the body, you will be very welcome to the
use of this poor house. However, I must tell you that nobody, except a
priest, would dare to remain here tonight."
Muso made answer:--
"For your kind intention and your generous hospitality and am deeply
grateful. But I am sorry that you did not tell me of your father's death
when I came; -- for, though I was a little tired, I certainly was not so
tired that I should have found difficulty in doing my duty as a priest. Had
you told me, I could have performed the service before your departure. As
it is, I shall perform the service after you have gone away; and I shall
Kwaidan |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: off her dusty boots, and Amy made lemonade for the refreshment
of the whole party.
"Aunt March went today, for which, oh, be joyful!" said Jo.
"I was mortally afraid she'd ask me to go with her. If she
had, I should have felt as if I ought to do it, but Plumfield is
about as gay as a churchyard, you know, and I'd rather be excused.
We had a flurry getting the old lady off, and I had a fright every
time she spoke to me, for I was in such a hurry to be through that
I was uncommonly helpful and sweet, and feared she'd find it
impossible to part from me. I quaked till she was fairly in the
carriage, and had a final fright, for as it drove of, she popped
Little Women |
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 Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: it?"
The elder answered, "Many have followed, and do follow it; but
the greatest part hesitate and draw back. For few, saith the
Lord, are the travellers along the strait and narrow way, but
along the wide and broad way many. For they that have once been
taken prisoners by the love of money, and the evils that come
from the love of pleasure, and are given up to idle and vain
glory, are hardly to be torn therefrom, seeing that they have of
their own free will sold themselves as slaves to a strange
master, and setting themselves on the opposite side to God, who
gave these commands, are held in bondage to that other. For the
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