| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: unhappy queen. If she had seen the brown eyes then, she would
have stopped short, but she never looked up, and the lesson was
not spoiled for her.
"Very well indeed!" said Mr. Brooke, as she paused, quite ignoring
her many mistakes, and looking as if he did indeed love to teach.
Miss Kate put up her glass, and, having taken a survey of
the little tableau before her, shut her sketch book, saying with
condescension, "You've a nice accent and in time will be a clever
reader. I advise you to learn, for German is a valuable
accomplishment to teachers. I must look after Grace, she is romping."
And Miss Kate strolled away, adding to herself with a shrug, "I
Little Women |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from King James Bible: saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a
feast unto me in the wilderness.
EXO 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice
to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
EXO 5:3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us
go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice
unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the
sword.
EXO 5:4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses
and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
EXO 5:5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many,
King James Bible |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: to her, for her affections went forth to some of the riders and
to all the horses. She was as well contented at that moment, on
the glittering Avenue, as if they had all been riding home
through country lanes, and in constant peril of being jolted
out among the whortleberry-bushes.
Her face brightened yet more as they met a carriage containing
a graceful lady dressed with that exquisiteness of taste that
charms both man and woman, even if no man can analyze and no
woman rival its effect. She had a perfectly high-bred look, and
an eye that in an instant would calculate one's ancestors as
far back as Nebuchadnezzar, and bow to them all together. She
|
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 Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac: sufficient means of living. I have the outward bearing of a very
ordinary man. I go to the soirees in Paris like any other empty-
headed fop; and if I drive, the wheels of my carriage do not roll
on the solid ground, absolutely indispensable in these days, of
property invested in the funds. But if I am not rich, neither do I
have the reliefs and consolations of life in a garret, the toil
uncomprehended, the fame in penury, which belong to men who are
worth far more than I,--D'Arthez, for instance.
Ah! what prosaic conclusions will your young enthusiasm find to
these enchanting visions. Let us stop here. If I have had the
happiness of seeming to you a terrestrial paragon, you have been
Modeste Mignon |
