| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Droll Stories, V. 1 by Honore de Balzac: which is a delicious street where everyone promenades, where there is
always a breeze, shade, sun, rain, and love. Ha! ha! laugh away, but
go there. It is a street always new, always royal, always imperial--a
patriotic street, a street with two paths, a street open at both ends,
a wide street, a street so large that no one has ever cried, "Out of
the way!" there. A street which does not wear out, a street which
leads to the abbey of Grand-mont, and to a trench, which works very
well with the bridge, and at the end of which is a finer fair ground.
A street well paved, well built, well washed, as clean as a glass,
populous, silent at certain times, a coquette with a sweet nightcap on
its pretty blue tiles--to be short, it is the street where I was born;
Droll Stories, V. 1 |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: lengthened as mine, yet must thou approach thereto, as the Lord
ordereth, that thou mayest prove no unworthy match for them that
have borne the burden and heat of the day. Therefore, beloved,
gladly accept the decrees of God. What God hath ordered, who, of
men, can scatter? Endure, then, under the protection of his
grace.
"But be thou ever sober against thoughts other than these; and,
like a right precious treasure, keep safely from robbers thy
purity of heart, stepping up day by day to higher work and
contemplation, that that may be fulfilled in thee, which the
Saviour promised to his friends, when he said, `If any man love
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rig Veda: Yea, let young children sing their lauds as a strong castle
praise ye
him.
9 Now loudly let the viol sound, the lute send out its voice
with
might,
Shrill be, the music of the string. To Indra. is the hymn up-raised.
10 When bither speed the dappled cows, unflinching, easy to
be milked,
Seize quickly, as it bursts away, the Soma juice for Indra's
drink.
The Rig Veda |
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 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: 'Joseph!' cried a peevish voice, simultaneously with me, from the
inner room. 'How often am I to call you? There are only a few red
ashes now. Joseph! come this moment.'
Vigorous puffs, and a resolute stare into the grate, declared he
had no ear for this appeal. The housekeeper and Hareton were
invisible; one gone on an errand, and the other at his work,
probably. We knew Linton's tones, and entered.
'Oh, I hope you'll die in a garret, starved to death!' said the
boy, mistaking our approach for that of his negligent attendant.
He stopped on observing his error: his cousin flew to him.
'Is that you, Miss Linton?' he said, raising his head from the arm
Wuthering Heights |
