| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Complete Angler by Izaak Walton: Falcon; in it she ascends to such a height as the dull eyes of beasts and
fish are not able to reach to; their bodies are too gross for such high
elevations; in the Air my troops of Hawks soar up on high, and when
they are lost in the sight of men, then they attend upon and converse
with the Gods; therefore I think my Eagle is so justly styled Jove's
servant in ordinary: and that very Falcon, that I am now going to see,
deserves no meaner a title, for she usually in her flight endangers
herself, like the son of Daedalus, to have her wings scorched by the
sun's heat, she flies so near it, but her mettle makes her careless of
danger; for she then heeds nothing, but makes her nimble pinions cut
the fluid air, and so makes her highway over the steepest mountains and
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Pierre Grassou by Honore de Balzac: appeared in it which still remain in their native obscurity, in spite
of the ten or a dozen pictures attached to them. Among these names
perhaps the most unknown to fame is that of an artist named Pierre
Grassou, coming from Fougeres, and called simply "Fougeres" among his
brother-artists, who, at the present moment holds a place, as the
saying is, "in the sun," and who suggested the rather bitter
reflections by which this sketch of his life is introduced,--
reflections that are applicable to many other individuals of the tribe
of artists.
In 1832, Fougeres lived in the rue de Navarin, on the fourth floor of
one of those tall, narrow houses which resemble the obelisk of Luxor,
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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 Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: the sheriff redoubled his speed, and, with the one arrow in his arm,
did not stop to breathe till he was out of reach of another.
The foresters did not waste time in Nottingham, but were soon at a distance
from its walls. Sir Guy returned with Alice to Gamwell-Hall; but thinking
he should not be safe there, from the share he had had in his son's rescue,
they only remained long enough to supply themselves with clothes and money,
and departed, under the escort of Little John, to another seat of the Gamwells
in Yorkshire. Young Gamwell, taking it for granted that his offence
was past remission, determined on joining Robin Hood, and accompanied him
to the forest, where it was deemed expedient that he should change his name;
and he was rechristened without a priest, and with wine instead of water,
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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 Touchstone by Edith Wharton: She had sorted the papers--she knew, then--she MUST know--and she
had made no sign!
Glennard, he hardly knew how, found himself once more in the
study. On the table lay the packet he had given her. It was much
smaller--she had evidently gone over the papers with care,
destroying the greater number. He loosened the elastic band and
spread the remaining envelopes on his desk. The publisher's
notice was among them.
X
His wife knew and she made no sign. Glennard found himself in the
case of the seafarer who, closing his eyes at nightfall on a scene
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