| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: latter, forced themselves upon his memory. "Old saws speak
truth," he said to himself, "and the Mermaiden's Well has indeed
witnessed the last act of rashness of the heir of Ravenswood.
Alice spoke well," he continued, "and I am in the situation which
she foretold; or rather, I am more deeply dishonoured--not the
dependant and ally of the destroyer of my father's house, as the
old sibyl presaged, but the degraded wretch who has aspired to
hold that subordinate character, and has been rejected with
disdain."
We are bound to tell the tale as we have received it; and,
considering the distance of the time, and propensity of those
The Bride of Lammermoor |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: "Beyond all question, therefore, there shall be a resurrection of
the dead, and this we believe undoubtingly. Moreover we know
that there shall be rewards and punishments for the deeds done in
our life-time, on the dreadful day of Christ's coming, `wherein
the heavens shall be dissolved in fire and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat,' as saith one of the inspired clerks of
God; `nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth.' For that there shall be rewards and
punishments for men's works, and that absolutely nothing, good or
bad, shall be overlooked, but that there is reserved a requital
for words, deeds and thoughts, is plain. The Lord saith,
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from New Arabian Nights by Robert Louis Stevenson: Vandeleur.
"Why, sir, as you please," returned Pendragon.
The General once more raised his cane, and made a cut for Charlie's
head; but the latter, lame foot and all, evaded the blow with his
umbrella, ran in, and immediately closed with his formidable
adversary.
"Run, Harry, run!" he cried; "run, you dolt! Harry stood petrified
for a moment, watching the two men sway together in this fierce
embrace; then he turned and took to his heels. When he cast a
glance over his shoulder he saw the General prostrate under
Charlie's knee, but still making desperate efforts to reverse the
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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 The Ball at Sceaux by Honore de Balzac: who talks to me of marriage as a foe to my peace of mind."
An uncle of Emilie's, a vice-admiral, whose fortune had just been
increased by twenty thousand francs a year in consequence of the Act
of Indemnity, and a man of seventy, feeling himself privileged to say
hard things to his grand-niece, on whom he doted, in order to mollify
the bitter tone of the discussion now exclaimed:
"Do not tease my poor little Emilie; don't you see she is waiting till
the Duc de Bordeaux comes of age!"
The old man's pleasantry was received with general laughter.
"Take care I don't marry you, old fool!" replied the young girl, whose
last words were happily drowned in the noise.
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