| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Marie by H. Rider Haggard: for already I saw that at some sign from Kambula I was being surrounded
by Zulus. He did so, and presently Retief came back himself accompanied
only by one man, and asked me what was the matter now. I informed him,
translating Kambula's words, which he repeated in his presence.
"Does the fellow mean that you will be seized if you do not go, or I
refuse to allow you to do so?"
To this question Kambula's answer was:
"That is so, Inkoos, since the king has private words for the ear of
Macumazahn. Therefore we must obey orders, and take him before the
king, living or dead."
"Allemachte!" exclaimed Retief, "this is serious," and, as though to
Marie |
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 Pierrette by Honore de Balzac: the morning after Brigaut had invaded her morning dreams like another
dream. She was certain that her cousin Sylvie must have heard the
song, or she would not have risen and opened her window; but Pierrette
was ignorant of the powerful reasons that made the old maid so alert.
For the last eight days, strange events and bitter feelings agitated
the minds of the chief personages who frequented the Rogron salon.
These hidden matters, carefully concealed by all concerned, were
destined to fall in their results like an avalanche on Pierrette. Such
mysterious things, which we ought perhaps to call the putrescence of
the human heart, lie at the base of the greatest revolutions,
political, social or domestic; but in telling of them it is desirable
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