| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: and said piteously:
"Oh, please, don't ask me to do it, uncle! He is a murderous devil--
I never could--I--I'm afraid of him!"
Old Driscoll's mouth opened and closed three times before he
could get it to perform its office; then he stormed out:
"A coward in my family! A Driscoll a coward! Oh, what have I done
to deserve this infamy!" He tottered to his secretary in the corner,
repeated that lament again and again in heartbreaking tones,
and got out of a drawer a paper, which he slowly tore to bits,
scattering the bits absently in his track as he walked up
and down the room, still grieving and lamenting. At last he said:
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: "To understand?"
"Yes."
"To understand that I wish to replace upon his throne this
King Charles II., who has no throne? Is that it?"
Planchet made a prodigious bound in his chair. "Ah, ah!"
said he, in evident terror, "that is what you call a
restoration!"
"Yes, Planchet; is it not the proper term for it?"
"Oh, no doubt, no doubt! But have you reflected seriously?"
"Upon what?"
"Upon what is going on yonder."
Ten Years Later |
