| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Art of Writing by Robert Louis Stevenson: PURPle the sails and so PUR* Fumed that * per
The wiNds were love-sick with them.' (7)
It may be asked why I have put the F of 'perfumed' in
capitals; and I reply, because this change from P to F is the
completion of that from B to P, already so adroitly carried
out. Indeed, the whole passage is a monument of curious
ingenuity; and it seems scarce worth while to indicate the
subsidiary S, L, and W. In the same article, a second
passage from Shakespeare was quoted, once again as an example
of his colour sense:
'A mole cinque-spotted like the crimson drops
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Aeneid by Virgil: And inches to the walls, where Tiber's tide,
Washing the camp, defends the weaker side.
The more he loses, they advance the more,
And tread in ev'ry step he trod before.
They shout: they bear him back; and, whom by might
They cannot conquer, they oppress with weight.
As, compass'd with a wood of spears around,
The lordly lion still maintains his ground;
Grins horrible, retires, and turns again;
Threats his distended paws, and shakes his mane;
He loses while in vain he presses on,
Aeneid |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: full.
The servant girl came out of their back door into the yard, carrying his
boots. She threw one down on the ground, thrust her hand into the other,
and stared at it, sucking in her cheeks. Suddenly she bent forward, spat
on the toecap, and started polishing with a brush rooted out of her apron
pocket..."Slut of a girl! Heaven knows what infectious disease may be
breeding now in that boot. Anna must get rid of that girl--even if she has
to do without one for a bit--as soon as she's up and about again. The way
she chucked one boot down and then spat upon the other! She didn't care
whose boots she'd got hold of. SHE had no false notions of the respect due
to the master of the house." He turned away from the window and switched
|
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 Paradise Lost by John Milton: He on his impious foes right onward drove,
Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels
The stedfast empyrean shook throughout,
All but the throne itself of God. Full soon
Among them he arrived; in his right hand
Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent
Before him, such as in their souls infixed
Plagues: They, astonished, all resistance lost,
All courage; down their idle weapons dropt:
O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode
Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,
Paradise Lost |
