| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Youth by Joseph Conrad: overtakes so many of the conquering race, who are proud
of their wisdom, of their knowledge, of their strength.
But for me all the East is contained in that vision of my
youth. It is all in that moment when I opened my young
eyes on it. I came upon it from a tussle with the sea--
and I was young--and I saw it looking at me. And this
is all that is left of it! Only a moment; a moment of
strength, of romance, of glamour--of youth! . . . A
flick of sunshine upon a strange shore, the time to re-
member, the time for a sigh, and--good-by!--Night--
Good-by . . .!"
Youth |
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 American by Henry James: "I will arrange that for you some day. I foresee that I am
going to turn apostle."
Valentin was on the threshold; he looked back a moment with a face
that had turned grave. "I adore some one I can't marry!" he said.
And he dropped the portiere and departed.
"They don't like it," said Newman, standing alone before Madame de Cintre.
"No," she said, after a moment; "they don't like it."
"Well, now, do you mind that?" asked Newman.
"Yes!" she said, after another interval.
"That's a mistake."
"I can't help it. I should prefer that my mother were pleased."
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