| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: branches on the top of the kopje. He intended to keep a fire burning all
night; and as the darkness began to settle down he lit it. It might be his
friends would see it from far, and come for him early in the morning; and
wild beasts would hardly approach him while he knelt beside it; and of the
natives he felt there was little fear.
He built up the fire; and determined if it were possible to keep awake the
whole night beside it.
He was a slight man of middle height, with a sloping forehead and pale blue
eyes: but the jaws were hard set, and the thin lips of the large mouth
were those of a man who could strongly desire the material good of life,
and enjoy it when it came his way. Over the lower half of the face were
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Lesson of the Master by Henry James: longed to hear more about the book she had induced him to destroy.
CHAPTER II
As they all came out from luncheon General Fancourt took hold of
him with an "I say, I want you to know my girl!" as if the idea had
just occurred to him and he hadn't spoken of it before. With the
other hand he possessed himself all paternally of the young lady.
"You know all about him. I've seen you with his books. She reads
everything - everything!" he went on to Paul. The girl smiled at
him and then laughed at her father. The General turned away and
his daughter spoke - "Isn't papa delightful?"
"He is indeed, Miss Fancourt."
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Droll Stories, V. 1 by Honore de Balzac: side of the Mall with Tristan, who, like a good Frenchman, kept them
company, and escorted them to their homes. This is why since that time
the citizens of Tours had never failed to defile the Mall of
Chardonneret, because the gentlemen of the court had been there.
I will not leave this great king without committing to writing this
good joke which he played upon La Godegrand, who was an old maid, much
disgusted that she had not, during the forty years she had lived, been
able to find a lid to her saucepan, enraged, in her yellow skin, that
she still was as virgin as a mule. This old maid had her apartments on
the other side of the house which belonged to La Beaupertuys, at the
corner of the Rue de Hierusalem, in such a position that, standing on
Droll Stories, V. 1 |
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 Illustrious Gaudissart by Honore de Balzac: "You!"
"Why shouldn't I be the Baron Gaudissart, peer of France? Haven't they
twice elected Monsieur Popinot as deputy from the fourth
arrondissement? He dines with Louis Phillippe. There's Finot; he is
going to be, they say, a member of the Council. Suppose they send me
as ambassador to London? I tell you I'd nonplus those English! No man
ever got the better of Gaudissart, the illustrious Gaudissart, and
nobody ever will. Yes, I say it! no one ever outwitted me, and no one
can--in any walk of life, politics or impolitics, here or elsewhere.
But, for the time being, I must give myself wholly to the capitalists;
to the 'Globe,' the 'Movement,' the 'Children,' and my article Paris."
|
