| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: Locust, Dragon-fly or other prey whereof I am the purveyor; and she
as quickly scales the donjon and retires with her capture. The
performance is a wonderful exhibition of skill and speed.
Very seldom is a quarry missed, provided that it pass at a
convenient distance, within the range of the huntress' bound. But,
if the prey be at some distance, for instance on the wire of the
cage, the Lycosa takes no notice of it. Scorning to go in pursuit,
she allows it to roam at will. She never strikes except when sure
of her stroke. She achieves this by means of her tower. Hiding
behind the wall, she sees the stranger advancing, keeps her eyes on
him and suddenly pounces when he comes within reach. These abrupt
The Life of the Spider |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan: struck against a little Bronze Pliny that stood over the Fire Place--
grazed out of the window at a right angle--and wounded the Postman,
who was just coming to the Door with a double letter from
Northamptonshire.
SIR BENJAMIN. My Unkle's account is more circumstantial I must
confess--but I believe mine is the true one for all that.
LADY SNEERWELL. I am more interested in this Affair than they
imagine--and must have better information.--
[Exit.]
SIR BENJAMIN. Ah! Lady Sneerwell's alarm is very easily accounted
for.--
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: or sleet, or rain almost every day for weeks, changing only for
keen driving winds or sharp frosts. The horses all felt it very much.
When it is a dry cold a couple of good thick rugs will keep the warmth in us;
but when it is soaking rain they soon get wet through and are no good.
Some of the drivers had a waterproof cover to throw over,
which was a fine thing; but some of the men were so poor
that they could not protect either themselves or their horses,
and many of them suffered very much that winter. When we horses
had worked half the day we went to our dry stables, and could rest,
while they had to sit on their boxes, sometimes staying out as late
as one or two o'clock in the morning if they had a party to wait for.
|
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 Hidden Masterpiece by Honore de Balzac: and lifted, layer by layer, the colors of Titian, king of light. Like
him, great sovereign of art, I have sketched my figure in light clear
tones of supple yet solid color; for shadow is but an accident,--
remember that, young man. Then I worked backward, as it were; and by
means of half-tints, and glazings whose transparency I kept
diminishing little by little, I was able to cast strong shadows
deepening almost to blackness. The shadows of ordinary painters are
not of the same texture as their tones of light. They are wood, brass,
iron, anything you please except flesh in shadow. We feel that if the
figures changed position the shady places would not be wiped off, and
would remain dark spots which never could be made luminous. I have
|
