| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Dead Souls by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol: seemed to boast of a little more intelligence than his companion, and
who wore a wedge-shaped beard, made answer:
"Perhaps you mean Manilovka--not ZAmanilovka?"
"Yes, yes--Manilovka."
"Manilovka, eh? Well, you must continue for another verst, and then
you will see it straight before you, on the right."
"On the right?" re-echoed the coachman.
"Yes, on the right," affirmed the peasant. "You are on the proper road
for Manilovka, but ZAmanilovka--well, there is no such place. The
house you mean is called Manilovka because Manilovka is its name; but
no house at all is called ZAmanilovka. The house you mean stands
Dead Souls |
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 Finished by H. Rider Haggard: arms were round her, and they were kissing each other in a
remarkably whole-hearted way. About this there could be no
mistake, since the rimpi-strung couch on which they sat was
immediately under the hanging lamp--a somewhat unfortunate
situation for such endearments. But what did they think of
hanging lamps or any other lights, save those of their own eyes,
they who were content to kiss and murmur words of passion as
though they were as much alone as Adam and Eve in Eden? What did
they think either of the serpent coiled about the bole of this
tree of knowledge whereof they had just plucked the ripe and
maddening fruit?
|
