| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: burrow, a rich, but dangerous prey. The majority refuse to fling
themselves upon the Carpenter-bee. The fact is that a quarry of
this kind cannot be seized recklessly: the huntress who missed her
stroke by biting at random would do so at the risk of her life.
The nape of the neck alone possesses the desired vulnerability.
The adversary must be nipped there and no elsewhere. Not to floor
her at once would mean to irritate her and make her more dangerous
than ever. The Spider is well aware of this. In the safe shelter
of her threshold, therefore, prepared to beat a quick retreat if
necessary, she watches for the favourable moment; she waits for the
big Bee to face her, when the neck is easily grabbed. If this
The Life of the Spider |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Riverman by Stewart Edward White: though deep down in primeval nature the powers of the world had been
loosed. Back and forth, here and there, erratic and swift and
sudden as lightning the theme played breathless. It fell.
"What is that?" gasped Orde, surprised to find himself tense, his
blood rioting, his soul stirred.
She ran to him to hide her face in his neck.
"Oh, it's you, you, you!" she cried.
He held her to him closely until her excitement had died.
"Do you think it is good to get quite so nervous, sweetheart?" he
asked gently, then. "Remember--"
"Oh, I do, I do!" she broke in earnestly. "Every moment of my
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Sons of the Soil by Honore de Balzac: interests. His books and papers were kept by a cashier,--an honest
man, whom men of Gaubertin's stamp always seek to get hold of, and
whom they make, in their own selfish interests, their first dupe.
When Rigou's little green chaise appeared, towards twelve o'clock, in
the broad avenue which skirts the river, Gaubertin, in cap, boots, and
jacket, was returning from the wharves. He hastened his steps,--
feeling very sure that Rigou's object in coming over could only be
"the great affair."
"Good morning, gendarme; good morning, paunch of gall and wisdom," he
said, giving a little slap to the stomachs of his two visitors. "We
have business to talk over, and, faith! we'll do it glass in hand;
|
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 Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: not to know anything of my existence, turned back to the station.
The sun was low; and leaning forward side by side, they seemed to be
tugging painfully uphill their two ridiculous shadows of unequal length,
that trailed behind them slowly over the tall grass without bending
a single blade.
"In a few days the Eldorado Expedition went into the patient
wilderness, that closed upon it as the sea closes over a diver.
Long afterwards the news came that all the donkeys were dead.
I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.
They, no doubt, like the rest of us, found what they deserved.
I did not inquire. I was then rather excited at the prospect of meeting
Heart of Darkness |
