| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Hidden Masterpiece by Honore de Balzac: of rendering on a flat canvas the relief and roundness of nature, this
morning at dawn I saw many errors. Ah! to attain that glorious result,
I have studied to their depths the masters of color. I have analyzed
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,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: sister. When Ellen was not present, the O'Haras teased her to
tears about him.
"Darling, I don't care a thing about Brent," declared Scarlett,
happy enough to be generous. "And he doesn't care a thing about
me. Why, he's waiting for you to grow up!"
Carreen's round little face became pink, as pleasure struggled
with incredulity.
"Oh, Scarlett, really?"
"Scarlett, you know Mother said Carreen was too young to think
about beaux yet, and there you go putting ideas in her head."
"Well, go and tattle and see if I care," replied Scarlett. "You
Gone With the Wind |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde: Touching your grievances, I promise this -
FIRST CITIZEN
Marry, he will lighten the taxes!
SECOND CITIZEN
Or a dole of bread, think you, for each man?
DUKE
That, on next Sunday, the Lord Cardinal
Shall, after Holy Mass, preach you a sermon
Upon the Beauty of Obedience.
[Citizens murmur.]
FIRST CITIZEN
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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 The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield: some trouble with her diamond wrist-watch; it got in her way. She tugged
at it--tried to break the stupid little thing--it wouldn't break. Finally,
she had to drag her glove over. I saw, after that, she couldn't stand this
place a moment longer, and, indeed, she jumped up and turned away while I
went through the vulgar act of paying for the tea.
And then we were outside again. It had grown dusky. The sky was sprinkled
with small stars; the big lamps glowed. While we waited for the car to
come up she stood on the step, just as before, twiddling her foot, looking
down.
Hennie bounded forward to open the door and she got in and sank back with--
oh--such a sigh!
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