| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: Francis Drake and his Excellency the Comte Halphertius. The dress of
the Swedish nobleman was correct to the last degree,--black coat,
white cravat, and white waistcoat, on which glowed the ribbon of an
order hanging from his neck; the rest of his decorations were fastened
to his coat by chainlets. At the first glance which he cast upon the
company, Vautrin had the annoyance of beholding that Jacqueline's
habits and instincts had been more potent than his express order,--for
a species of green and yellow turban surmounted her head in a manner
which he felt to be ridiculous; but thanks to the admirable manner in
which the rest of his programme had been carried out, the luckless
coiffure was forgiven.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: inconsistency. My father might expect a time of greater security.
However, some desire is necessary to keep life in motion; and he
whose real wants are supplied must admit those of fancy."
"This," said the Prince, "I can in some measure conceive. I repent
that I interrupted thee."
"With this hope," proceeded Imlac, "he sent me to school. But when
I had once found the delight of knowledge, and felt the pleasure of
intelligence and the pride of invention, I began silently to
despise riches, and determined to disappoint the purposes of my
father, whose grossness of conception raised my pity. I was twenty
years old before his tenderness would expose me to the fatigue of
|