| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Love and Friendship by Jane Austen: "Oh! Certainly. (said I, with the greatest complacency, for I
assure you my dearest Charlotte I was not in the least offended
tho' by what followed, one would suppose that William was
conscious of having given me just cause to be so, for coming up
to me and taking my hand, he said) "You must not look so grave
Susan; you will make me fear I have offended you!"
"Offended me! Dear Brother, how came such a thought in your
head! (returned I) No really! I assure you that I am not in the
least surprised at your being so warm an advocate for the Beauty
of these girls "--
"Well, but (interrupted William) remember that we have not yet
 Love and Friendship |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Eugenie Grandet by Honore de Balzac: "Father!"
Grandet took his knife to pry out some of the gold; to do this, he
placed the dressing-case on a chair. Eugenie sprang forward to recover
it; but her father, who had his eye on her and on the treasure too,
pushed her back so violently with a thrust of his arm that she fell
upon her mother's bed.
"Monsieur, monsieur!" cried the mother, lifting herself up.
Grandet had opened his knife, and was about to apply it to the gold.
"Father!" cried Eugenie, falling on her knees and dragging herself
close to him with clasped hands, "father, in the name of all the
saints and the Virgin! in the name of Christ who died upon the cross!
 Eugenie Grandet |