| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lemorne Versus Huell by Elizabeth Drew Stoddard: Aunt Eliza would say, I thought, "Needs must when a lawyer
drives"; and I concluded to allow him to have his way, telling him
that he was taking a great deal of trouble. He thought it would be
less if he were allowed to sit inside; both ways were unsafe.
Nothing happened. William drove well from habit; but James was
obliged to assist him to dismount. Mr. Uxbridge waited a moment at
the door, and so there was quite a little sensation, which spread
its ripples till Aunt Eliza was reached. She sent for William,
whose only excuse was "dampness."
"Uxbridge knew my carriage, of course," she said, with a
complacent voice.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: making believe.
Enter HASTINGS.
HASTINGS. So, sir, I find by my servant, that you have shown my
letter, and betrayed us. Was this well done, young gentleman?
TONY. Here's another. Ask miss there, who betrayed you. Ecod, it was
her doing, not mine.
Enter MARLOW.
MARLOW. So I have been finely used here among you. Rendered
contemptible, driven into ill manners, despised, insulted, laughed at.
TONY. Here's another. We shall have old Bedlam broke loose
presently.
She Stoops to Conquer |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: kindness?
Lamprocles again assented.
Socrates continued: And where can we hope to find greater benefits
than those which children derive from their parents--their father and
mother who brought them out of nothingness into being, who granted
them to look upon all these fair sights, and to partake of all those
blessings which the gods bestow on man, things so priceless in our
eyes that one and all we shudder at the thought of leaving them, and
states have made death the penalty for the greatest crimes, because
there is no greater evil through fear of which to stay iniquity.
You do not suppose that human beings produce children for the sake of
The Memorabilia |
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 Melmoth Reconciled by Honore de Balzac: colossal genius.
"Education is making strides in France," said he to himself.
PARIS, May 6, 1835.
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.
Aquilina
The Magic Skin
Claparon, Charles
A Bachelor's Establishment
Cesar Birotteau
The Firm of Nucingen
|
