| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Prince of Bohemia by Honore de Balzac: look back to the days when Sophie Arnould, a Guimard, or a Duthe, in
all her glory, squandered the fortunes of princes.
"How far did this sumptuous existence affect du Bruel? It is a
delicate question to ask, and a still more delicate one to answer. A
single incident will suffice to give you an idea of Tullia's
crotchets. Her bed-spread of Brussels lace was worth ten thousand
francs. A famous actress had another like it. As soon as Claudine
heard this, she allowed her cat, a splendid Angora, to sleep on the
bed. That trait gives you the woman. Du Bruel dared not say a word; he
was ordered to spread abroad that challenge in luxury, so that it
might reach the other. Tullia was very fond of this gift from the Duc
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: of Raleigh's Virginian Colony: but no news of the Rose, and of
those who had sailed in her. And Mrs. Leigh bowed her head, and
worshipped, and said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord!"
Her hair was now grown gray; her cheeks were wan; her step was
feeble. She seldom went from home, save to the church, and to the
neighboring cottages. She never mentioned her sons' names; never
allowed a word to pass her lips, which might betoken that she
thought of them; but every day, when the tide was high, and red
flag on the sandhills showed that there was water over the bar, she
paced the terrace-walk, and devoured with greedy eyes the sea
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: hypocrites if He please, or turn again towards them;-verily, God is
forgiving, merciful!
And God drove back the misbelievers in their rage; they gat no
advantage;-God was enough for the believers in the fight, for God is
strong, mighty!
And He drove down those of the people of the Book who had helped
them from their fortresses and hurled dread into their hearts; a
part ye slew and ye took captive a part: and He gave you their land,
and their dwellings, and their property for an inheritance, and a land
ye had not trodden, for God is ever mighty over all.
O thou prophet! say to thy wives, 'If ye be desirous of the life
The Koran |
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 Master and Man by Leo Tolstoy: at another a woman, covering her head with her coat, came
running from somewhere and entered the door of a hut, stopping
on the threshold to have a look at the passing sledge. In the
middle of the village girls could be heard singing.
Here in the village there seemed to be less wind and snow, and
the frost was less keen.
'Why, this is Grishkino,' said Vasili Andreevich.
'So it is,' responded Nikita.
It really was Grishkino, which meant that they had gone too far
to the left and had travelled some six miles, not quite in the
direction they aimed at, but towards their destination for all
Master and Man |
