| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Juana by Honore de Balzac: enabled to bear her trial by visions of Juana, virgin, wife, and
mother, a mother throughout her life. On the threshold of that house
Marana left a tear such as the angels garner up.
Since that day of mourning and hope the mother, drawn by some
invincible presentiment, had thrice returned to see her daughter. Once
when Juana fell ill with a dangerous complaint:
"I knew it," she said to Perez when she reached the house.
Asleep, she had seen her Juana dying. She nursed her and watched her,
until one morning, sure of the girl's convalescence, she kissed her,
still asleep, on the forehead and left her without betraying whom she
was. A second time the Marana came to the church where Juana made her
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac: "Let us have no more of Mlle. Judas," said the painter, turning
to Mme. Vauquer. "If you don't show the Michonneau the door,
madame, we shall all leave your shop, and wherever we go we shall
say that there are only convicts and spies left there. If you do
the other thing, we will hold our tongues about the business; for
when all is said and done, it might happen in the best society
until they brand them on the forehead, when they send them to the
hulks. They ought not to let convicts go about Paris disguised
like decent citizens, so as to carry on their antics like a set
of rascally humbugs, which they are."
At this Mme. Vauquer recovered miraculously. She sat up and
Father Goriot |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign;
It fails not yet, but flourishes in thee
And in thy sons, fair slips of such a stock.--
Then, father Salisbury, kneel we together;
And in this private plot be we the first
That shall salute our rightful sovereign
With honour of his birthright to the crown.
BOTH.
Long live our sovereign Richard, England's king!
YORK.
We thank you, lords. But I am not your king
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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 Oedipus Trilogy by Sophocles: CHORUS
O thy despair well suits thy desperate case.
Would I had never looked upon thy face!
OEDIPUS
(Ant. 2)
My curse on him whoe'er unrived
The waif's fell fetters and my life revived!
He meant me well, yet had he left me there,
He had saved my friends and me a world of care.
CHORUS
I too had wished it so.
Oedipus Trilogy |
