| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Droll Stories, V. 1 by Honore de Balzac: therein to evil deeds, and in the night I dream of the monk of the
Carneaux."
"My dear," replied the seneschal, "these are devilries and temptations
against which the monks and nuns know how to defend themselves. If you
will gain salvation, go and confess to the worthy Abbot of
Marmoustiers, our neighbour; he will advise you well and will holily
direct you in the good way."
"Tomorrow I will go," said she.
And indeed directly it was day, she trotted off to the monastery of
the good brethren, who marvelled to see among them so pretty a lady;
committed more than one sin through her in the evening; and for the
Droll Stories, V. 1 |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Iron Puddler by James J. Davis: "Look here, Bill; you're in no shape to work. Go home and lie
down for a couple of days. You wouldn't last here two hours in
your present shaky condition. You'd pinch the rolls with your
tongs and probably get your neck broke. That's why they won't let
you work. You can't work. So back to your bed, Bill, we will not
call them out to-day."
Bill usually went away cursing me as the friend of the "plutes"
and the enemy of labor. "I'll get you yet," he'd say, "you black-
headed buzzard."
And so while I was making enemies among many of the men who
thought I wasn't standing up for their rights, I was making
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Travels with a Donkey in the Cevenne by Robert Louis Stevenson: doing it too much honour to call it a religion.'
'As you please, monsieur,' said I. 'LA PAROLE EST A VOUS.'
At length I grew annoyed beyond endurance; and although he was on
his own ground and, what is more to the purpose, an old man, and so
holding a claim upon my toleration, I could not avoid a protest
against this uncivil usage. He was sadly discountenanced.
'I assure you.' he said, 'I have no inclination to laugh in my
heart. I have no other feeling but interest in your soul.'
And there ended my conversion. Honest man! he was no dangerous
deceiver; but a country parson, full of zeal and faith. Long may
he tread Gevaudan with his kilted skirts - a man strong to walk and
|
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 When the World Shook by H. Rider Haggard: I said no more, nor did Bastin, who was now engaged in studying
the old man, and for once, wonderstruck and overcome. Bickley,
however, took one of the candles and began to make a close
examination of the coffins. So did Tommy, who sniffed along the
join of that of the Glittering Lady until his nose reached a
certain spot, where it remained, while his black tail began to
wag in a delighted fashion. Bickley pushed him away and
investigated.
"As I thought," he said--"air-holes. See!"
I looked, and there, bored through the crystal of the coffin in
a line with the face of its occupant, were a number of little
When the World Shook |
