| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: lady you are serving."
He lowered his head; then she took his hand and nestling to him with a
pretty movement said: "Pierre, what is all this to you and me? I don't
know what you understand about it, but I can't make it out. Recollect
one thing: that noble and beautiful young lady has been my
benefactress; she is also yours--we live together like two sisters. No
harm must ever come to her where we are, you and I--in our lifetime at
least. Swear it! I trust no one here but you."
"I don't command here," said the Chouan, in a surly tone.
His face darkened. She caught his long ears and twisted them gently as
if playing with a cat.
The Chouans |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: he spurred up his four-footed better half, and galloped off
as nimbly as if he had had an arrow singing behind him.
"Is this lady Matilda, then, so very terrible a damsel?"
said Sir Ralph to brother Michael.
"By no means," said the friar. "She has certainly a high spirit;
but it is the wing of the eagle, without his beak or his claw.
She is as gentle as magnanimous; but it is the gentleness of the
summer wind, which, however lightly it wave the tuft of the pine,
carries with it the intimation of a power, that, if roused
to its extremity, could make it bend to the dust."
"From the warmth of your panegyric, ghostly father," said the knight,
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from King James Bible: goodly stones and gifts, he said,
LUK 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in
the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not
be thrown down.
LUK 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these
things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to
pass?
LUK 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye
not therefore after them.
LUK 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not
King James Bible |
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 The Village Rector by Honore de Balzac: constancy, and goodness of the man. The nose, like that of most men of
the true Gallic race, was flattened. His mouth, firm and straight,
showed absolute discretion and the instinct of economy. But the whole
mask, worn by study, looked prematurely old.
"We must begin by thanking you, monsieur," said Madame Graslin,
addressing the engineer, "for being willing to direct an enterprise in
a part of the country which can offer you no other pleasure than the
satisfaction of knowing that you are doing a real good."
"Madame," he replied, "Monsieur Grossetete has told me enough about
your enterprise as we came along to make me already glad that I can in
any way be useful to you; the prospect of living in close relations
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