| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Pierrette by Honore de Balzac: the girl. Pierrette, like all those who suffer more than they have
strength to bear, kept silence. Silence is the only weapon by which
such victims can conquer; it baffles the Cossack charges of envy, the
savage skirmishings of suspicion; it does at times give victory,
crushing and complete,--for what is more complete than silence? it is
absolute; it is one of the attributes of infinity. Sylvie watched
Pierrette narrowly. The girl colored; but the color, instead of rising
evenly, came out in patches on her cheekbones, in burning and
significant spots. A mother, seeing that symptom of illness, would
have changed her tone at once; she would have taken the child on her
lap and questioned her; in fact, she would long ago have tenderly
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: error.'
They say, 'When shall this promise come to pass, if ye do tell the
truth?' They await but a single noise, that shall seize them as they
are contending. And they shall not be able to make a bequest; nor to
their people shall they return; but the trumpet shall be blown, and,
behold, from their graves unto their Lord shall they slip out!
They shall say, 'O, woe is us! who has raised us up from our
sleeping-place? this is what the Merciful promised, and the apostles
told the truth!' It shall be but a single noise, and lo! they are
all arraigned before us.
And on that day no soul shall be wronged at all, nor shall ye be
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tom Sawyer Abroad by Mark Twain: turnip, and then at the clock, and then at the turnip
again, and says:
"That's funny! That clock's near about an hour
fast."
So he put up his turnip. Then he see another clock,
and took a look, and it was an hour fast too. That
puzzled him.
"That's a mighty curious thing," he says. "I
don't understand it."
Then he took the glass and hunted up another clock,
and sure enough it was an hour fast too. Then his
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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 Adam Bede by George Eliot: since he had heard Dinah was not in the house, rose and said he
must bid good-night.
"I'll go with you, lad," said Bartle; "I'll go with you before my
ears are split."
"I'll go round by the Common and see you home, if you like, Mr.
Massey," said Adam.
"Aye, aye!" said Bartle; "then we can have a bit o' talk together.
I never get hold of you now."
"Eh! It's a pity but you'd sit it out," said Martin Poyser.
"They'll all go soon, for th' missis niver lets 'em stay past
ten."
Adam Bede |
