The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Commission in Lunacy by Honore de Balzac: when the soul seeks consolation.
"Those rooms would just suit me," said he to himself as he reached
home. "If M. d'Espard leaves them, I will take up his lease."
The next day, at about ten in the morning, Popinot, who had written
out his report the previous evening, made his way to the Palais de
Justice, intending to have prompt and righteous justice done. As he
went to the robing-room to put on his gown and bands, the usher told
him that the President of his Court begged him to attend in his
private room, where he was waiting for him. Popinot forthwith obeyed.
"Good-morning, my dear Popinot," said the President, "I have been
waiting for you."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: The light in the room was dim. Antonia, crouching in a corner,
rocked herself backwards and forwards, uttering feeble moans. Old
Nelson had not much experience in various kinds of feminine
laughter, but he was certain there had been laughter there.
"Very unfeeling, very unfeeling!" he said, with weighty
displeasure. "What is there so amusing in a man being in pain? I
should have thought a woman - a young girl - "
"He was so funny," murmured Freya, whose eyes glistened strangely
in the semi-obscurity of the passage. "And then, you know, I don't
like him," she added, in an unsteady voice.
"Funny!" repeated old Nelson, amazed at this evidence of
'Twixt Land & Sea |
The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Grimm's Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm: he went away, and when he returned next day she had not done it, and
said: 'Why should I shed the blood of an innocent boy who has never
harmed anyone?' The cook once more said: 'If you do not do it, it
shall cost you your own life.' When he had gone away, she had a little
hind brought to her, and ordered her to be killed, and took her heart
and tongue, and laid them on a plate, and when she saw the old man
coming, she said to the boy: 'Lie down in your bed, and draw the
clothes over you.' Then the wicked wretch came in and said: 'Where are
the boy's heart and tongue?' The girl reached the plate to him, but
the king's son threw off the quilt, and said: 'You old sinner, why did
you want to kill me? Now will I pronounce thy sentence. You shall
Grimm's Fairy Tales |
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 Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: "You are all cowards!" exclaimed Matho.
And with the best among them he rushed against the entrenchment. They
were repulsed by a volley of stones; for the Suffet had taken their
abandoned catapults on the bridge.
This want of success produced an abrupt change in the fickle minds of
the Barbarians. Their extreme bravery disappeared; they wished to
conquer, but with the smallest possible risk. According to Spendius
they ought to maintain carefully the position that they held, and
starve out the Punic army. But the Carthaginians began to dig wells,
and as there were mountains surrounding the hill, they discovered
water.
Salammbo |