| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from In the South Seas by Robert Louis Stevenson: with maimed rites. Strange to think that his last conscious
pleasure was the CASCO and my feast; strange to think that he had
limped there, an old child, looking for some new good. And the
good thing, rest, had been allotted him.
But though the widow had neglected much, there was one part she
must not utterly neglect. She came away with the dispersing
funeral; but the dead man's mat was left behind upon the grave, and
I learned that by set of sun she must return to sleep there. This
vigil is imperative. From sundown till the rising of the morning
star the Paumotuan must hold his watch above the ashes of his
kindred. Many friends, if the dead have been a man of mark, will
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: And I had the key of this woman's room, and in three or four
hours she would again be mine!
People blame those who let themselves be ruined by actresses and
kept women; what astonishes me is that twenty times greater
follies are not committed for them. One must have lived that
life, as I have, to know how much the little vanities which they
afford their lovers every day help to fasten deeper into the
heart, since we have no other word for it, the love which he has
for them.
Prudence next took her place in the box, and a man, whom I
recognised as the Comte de G., seated himself at the back. As I
Camille |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: "Ah!" said Thuillier.
"Yes," continued Cerizet, "remembering the business-like manner in
which you managed the affair of this house in which you do me the
honor to receive me, I thought I could not do better than to call your
attention to a matter of the same kind which I have just now in hand.
But I shall not do as la Peyrade did,--make a bargain for the hand of
your goddaughter, and profess great friendship and devotion to you
personally. This is purely business, and I expect to make my profit
out of it. Now, as I still desire to become the principal tenant of
this house,--the letting of which must be a care and a disappointment
to mademoiselle, for I saw as I came along that the shops were still
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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 Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy: voyage."
"Indeed, indeed, we are glad to be in England," she said,
while her eyes filled with tears, "and we have already forgotten all
that we have suffered."
Her voice was musical and low, and there was a great deal of
calm dignity and of many sufferings nobly endured marked in the
handsome, aristocratic face, with its wealth of snowy-white hair
dressed high above the forehead, after the fashion of the times.
"I hope my friend, Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, proved an entertaining
travelling companion, madame?"
"Ah, indeed, Sir Andrew was kindness itself. How could my
The Scarlet Pimpernel |
