| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: table with a tankard of spiced ale at his elbow, and a dish of
wafers and some fragments of cheese on a pewter platter before
him. He pointed to his clerk's seat--a joint stool somewhat like
a camp-chair, but made of heavy oaken braces and with a seat of
hog-skin--and bade Myles be seated.
It was the first time that Myles had ever heard of such courtesy
being extended to one of the company of squires, and, much
wondering, he obeyed the invitation, or rather command, and took
the seat.
The old knight sat regarding him for a while in silence, his one
eye, as bright and as steady as that of a hawk, looking keenly
Men of Iron |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Lover's Complaint by William Shakespeare: His rudeness so with his authoriz'd youth
Did livery falseness in a pride of truth.
'Well could he ride, and often men would say
That horse his mettle from his rider takes:
Proud of subjection, noble by the sway,
What rounds, what bounds, what course, what stop he makes!
And controversy hence a question takes,
Whether the horse by him became his deed,
Or he his manage by the well-doing steed.
'But quickly on this side the verdict went;
His real habitude gave life and grace
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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 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum: near the earth's surface, which meant home to them. But when the
adventurers looked more carefully around them they discovered that
there were in a strong prison from which there was no hope of escape.
"But we're ALMOST on earth again," cried Dorothy, "for there is the
sun--the most BEAU'FUL sun that shines!" and she pointed eagerly at
the crack in the distant roof.
"Almost on earth isn't being there," said the kitten, in a
discontented tone. "It wouldn't be possible for even me to get up to
that crack--or through it if I got there."
"It appears that the path ends here," announced the Wizard, gloomily.
"And there is no way to go back," added Zeb, with a low whistle
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz |
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 Ebb-Tide by Stevenson & Osbourne: of pointers; you can find out what he has, and what the charter
is, and who's the fourth man--for there's four of them, and
we're only three.'
'And suppose I do, what next?' cried Herrick. 'Answer me that!'
'So I will, Robert Herrick,' said the captain. 'But first, let's
see all clear. I guess you know,' he said with an imperious
solemnity, 'I guess you know the bottom is out of this Farallone
speculation? I guess you know it's RIGHT out? and if this old
island hadn't been turned up right when it did, I guess you know
where you and I and Huish would have been?'
'Yes, I know that,' said Herrick. 'No matter who's to blame,
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