| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Professor by Charlotte Bronte: Town-hall yesterday, I had the pleasure of hearing myself
insulted by the speaker opposed to me in the question under
discussion, by allusions to my private affairs; by cant about
monsters without natural affection, family despots, and such
trash; and when I rose to answer, I was met by a shout from the
filthy mob, where the mention of your name enabled me at once to
detect the quarter in which this base attack had originated. When
I looked round, I saw that treacherous villain, Hunsden acting as
fugleman. I detected you in close conversation with Hunsden at
my house a month ago, and I know that you were at Hunsden's rooms
last night. Deny it if you dare."
The Professor |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Timaeus by Plato: make the possessor of them to become a rational being. And if these
combine in him with any true nurture or education, he attains the fulness
and health of the perfect man, and escapes the worst disease of all; but if
he neglects education he walks lame to the end of his life, and returns
imperfect and good for nothing to the world below. This, however, is a
later stage; at present we must treat more exactly the subject before us,
which involves a preliminary enquiry into the generation of the body and
its members, and as to how the soul was created--for what reason and by
what providence of the gods; and holding fast to probability, we must
pursue our way.
First, then, the gods, imitating the spherical shape of the universe,
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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 Pierrette by Honore de Balzac: which I have now fallen!"
Sylvie had heard Pierrette, and she had also heard Brigaut under her
window. She jumped out of bed and rushed to the window to look through
the blinds into the square and there she saw, in the moonlight, a man
hurrying in the direction of the colonel's house, in front of which
Brigaut happened to stop. The old maid gently opened her door, went
upstairs, was amazed to find a light in Pierrette's room, looked
through the keyhole, and could see nothing.
"Pierrette," she said, "are you ill?"
"No, cousin," said Pierrette, surprised.
"Why is your candle burning at this time of night? Open the door; I
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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 Salome by Oscar Wilde: UN NAZAREEN. Mais, je suis sur que c'est le prophete Elie.
UN JUIF. Mais non, ce n'est pas le prophete Elie.
LA VOIX D'IOKANAAN. Le jour est venu, le jour du Seigneur, et
j'entends sur les montagnes les pieds de celui qui sera le Sauveur
du monde.
HERODE. Qu'est ce que cela veut dire? Le Sauveur du monde?
TIGELLIN. C'est un titre que prend Cesar.
HERODE. Mais Cesar ne vient pas en Judee. J'ai recu hier des
lettres de Rome. On ne m'a rien dit de cela. Enfin, vous,
Tigellin, qui avez ete e Rome pendant l'hiver, vous n'avez rien
entendu dire de cela?
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