| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy: of being blamed by his chiefs in the school, made
him carry out the purpose he had entertained ever
since his wife's death--of taking monastic orders,
and of following the course carried out by some
of his fellow-pupils in the academy. One of them
was already a bishop, another an archimandrite
and on the way to become a bishop.
At the end of the term Michael Vedensky gave
up his post in the school, took orders under the
name of Missael, and very soon got a post as
rector in a seminary in a town on the river Volga.
 The Forged Coupon |
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 An Episode Under the Terror by Honore de Balzac: dogma which turns respect for the person of a King into a matter of
religion. In the priest's indecision he was eager to see a favorable
solution of the doubts which seemed to torment him. To prevent too
prolonged reflection on the part of the reverend Jansenist, he added:
"I should blush to offer remuneration of any kind for the funeral
service which you have just performed for the repose of the King's
soul and the relief of my conscience. The only possible return for
something of inestimable value is an offering likewise beyond price.
Will you deign, monsieur, to take my gift of a holy relic? A day will
perhaps come when you will understand its value."
As he spoke the stranger held out a box; it was very small and
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