| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: misanthropy and hatred; his complexion, so long kept from
the sun, had now that pale color which produces, when the
features are encircled with black hair, the aristocratic
beauty of the man of the north; the profound learning he had
acquired had besides diffused over his features a refined
intellectual expression; and he had also acquired, being
naturally of a goodly stature, that vigor which a frame
possesses which has so long concentrated all its force
within itself.
To the elegance of a nervous and slight form had succeeded
the solidity of a rounded and muscular figure. As to his
The Count of Monte Cristo |
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 A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac: We see now why Oscar, become in his turn participator in the hoax,
called out to the little clerk, "Forward, the book!"
Ten minutes later a handsome young man, with a fine figure and
pleasant face, presented himself, asked for Monsieur Desroches, and
gave his name without hesitation to Godeschal.
"I am Frederic Marest," he said, "and I come to take the place of
third clerk."
"Monsieur Husson," said Godeschal to Oscar, "show monsieur his seat
and tell him about the customs of the office."
The next day the new clerk found the register lying on his desk. He
took it up, but after reading a few pages he began to laugh, said
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