| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: said the magistrate; "I will not dishonor you, since that
would be dishonor to myself; no, if you have heard me
distinctly, you will understand that you are not to die on
the scaffold."
"No, I do not understand; what do you mean?" stammered the
unhappy woman, completely overwhelmed. "I mean that the wife
of the first magistrate in the capital shall not, by her
infamy, soil an unblemished name; that she shall not, with
one blow, dishonor her husband and her child."
"No, no -- oh, no!"
"Well, madame, it will be a laudable action on your part,
The Count of Monte Cristo |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: "You know I never approved of it," pursued Utterson,
ruthlessly disregarding the fresh topic.
"My will? Yes, certainly, I know that," said the doctor, a
trifle sharply. "You have told me so."
"Well, I tell you so again," continued the lawyer. "I have
been learning something of young Hyde."
The large handsome face of Dr. Jekyll grew pale to the very
lips, and there came a blackness about his eyes. "I do not care
to hear more," said he. "This is a matter I thought we had agreed
to drop."
"What I heard was abominable," said Utterson.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Maitre Cornelius by Honore de Balzac: happiness.
"Will you fly with me into the adjoining States?" said the young man,
eagerly. "Two English horses are awaiting us close by, able to do
thirty leagues at a stretch."
"Ah!" she cried, softly, "in what corner of the world could you hide a
daughter of King Louis XI.?"
"True," replied the young man, silenced by a difficulty he had not
foreseen.
"Why did you tear me from my husband?" she asked in a sort of terror.
"Alas!" said her lover, "I did not reckon on the trouble I should feel
in being near you, in hearing you speak to me. I have made plans,--two
|
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 Koran: 'If ye misbelieve, ye and those who are on the earth altogether- then,
verily, God is rich, and to be praised!'
Has not the story come to you of those who were before you, of the
people of Noah, and 'Ad, and Thamud,and those who came after them?
none knows them save God. Apostles came unto them with manifest signs;
but they thrust their hands into their mouths and said, 'Verily, we
disbelieve in that which ye are sent with, and we are in hesitating
doubt concerning that to which ye call us!' Their apostles said, 'Is
there doubt about God, the originator of the heavens and the earth? He
calls you to pardon you for your sins, and to respite you until an
appointed time.'
The Koran |
