| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Muse of the Department by Honore de Balzac: "Oh, why did I come here?" sobbed she. "Good Heavens, why indeed?--
Etienne, I am not so provincial as you think me.--You are making a
fool of me."
"Darling angel," replied Lousteau, taking Dinah in his arms, lifting
her from her chair, and dragging her half dead into the drawing-room,
"we have both pledged our future, it is sacrifice for sacrifice. While
I was loving you at Sancerre, they were engaging me to be married
here, but I refused.--Oh! I was extremely distressed----"
"I am going," cried Dinah, starting wildly to her feet and turning to
the door.
"You will stay here, my Didine. All is at an end. And is this fortune
The Muse of the Department |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Purse by Honore de Balzac: went out at a very early hour to walk under the fresh shade of
the Tuileries, absorbed in his thoughts, forgetting everything in
the world.
There by chance he met one of his most intimate friends, a
school-fellow and studio-mate, with whom he had lived on better
terms than with a brother.
"Why, Hippolyte, what ails you?" asked Francois Souchet, the
young sculptor who had just won the first prize, and was soon to
set out for Italy.
"I am most unhappy," replied Hippolyte gravely.
"Nothing but a love affair can cause you grief. Money, glory,
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa: cried Manstin.
"How! you have said it. Arise. Take out your eyes and give
them to me. Henceforth you are at home here in my stead."
At once Manstin took out both his eyes and the old man put
them on! Rejoicing, the old grandfather started away with his
young eyes while the blind rabbit filled his dream pipe, leaning
lazily against the tent pole. For a short time it was a most
pleasant pastime to smoke willow bark and to eat from the magic
bags.
Manstin grew thirsty, but there was no water in the small
dwelling. Taking one of the rawhide ropes he started toward the
|
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 Of The Nature of Things by Lucretius: Nor yet emerge unto their rising-place:
For this it is that nights in winter time
Do linger long, ere comes the many-rayed
Round Badge of the day. Or else because, as said,
In alternating seasons of the year
Fires, now more quick, and now more slow, are wont
To stream together,- the fires which make the sun
To rise in some one spot- therefore it is
That those men seem to speak the truth [who hold
A new sun is with each new daybreak born].
The moon she possibly doth shine because
Of The Nature of Things |
