| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Alice Dunbar: Dubeau,--Madame Dubeau, the flute-voiced leading soprano, who
wore the single dainty curl on her forehead, and thrilled her
audiences oftentimes more completely than the fisherman. Madame
Dubeau was La Juive to his Eleazar, Leonore to his Manfred, Elsa
to his Lohengrin, Aida to his Rhadames, Marguerite to his Faust;
in brief, Madame Dubeau was his opposite. She caressed him as
Mignon, pleaded with him as Michaela, died for him in "Les
Huguenots," broke her heart for love of him in "La Favorite."
How could he help but love her, Annette asked herself, how could
he? Madame Dubeau was beautiful and gifted and charming.
Once she whispered her fears to him when there was the meagrest
The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: food ye feed your families withal, or to clothe them, or to free a
neck; but he who has not the means, then let him fast three days. That
is the expiation of your oaths, when ye have sworn to keep your oaths;
thus does God explain to you His signs,- haply ye may be grateful.
O ye who believe! verily, wine, and el maisar, and statues, and
divining (arrows) are only an abomination of Satan's work; avoid
them then that haply ye may prosper. Satan only desires to place
enmity and hatred between you by wine and maisar, and to turn you from
the remembrance of God and from prayer; but will ye not desist, and
obey God, and obey the apostles, and beware, for if ye turn back
then know that our Apostle has only his message to preach?
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: "Joly, lend me ten sous," said Laigle; and, turning to Grantaire:
"Grantaire, lend me ten sous."
This made twenty sous, which Laigle handed to the lad.
"Thank you, sir," said the urchin.
"What is your name?" inquired Laigle.
"Navet, Gavroche's friend."
"Stay with us," said Laigle.
"Breakfast with us," said Grantaire,
The child replied:--
"I can't, I belong in the procession, I'm the one to shout `Down
with Polignac!'"
Les Miserables |
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 Phoenix and the Turtle by William Shakespeare: Phoenix and the turtle fled
In a mutual flame from hence.
So they lov'd, as love in twain
Had the essence but in one;
Two distincts, division none:
Number there in love was slain.
Hearts remote, yet not asunder;
Distance, and no space was seen
'Twixt the turtle and his queen;
But in them it were a wonder.
So between them love did shine,
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