| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Marie by H. Rider Haggard: "I dare say," I answered, not wishing to enter into a legal argument
with the vrouw. "But you see, Tante, I solemnly promised her father
that I would not marry her until she was of age, and if I broke my word
I should not be an honest man."
"An honest man!" she exclaimed with the utmost contempt; "an honest man!
Well, are Marais and Hernan Pereira honest men? Why do you not cut
your stick the same length as theirs, Allan Quatermain? I tell you that
your verdomde honesty will be your ruin. You remember my words later
on," and she marched off in high dudgeon.
When she had gone I went to my wagons, where Hans was waiting for me
with a detailed and interminable report of everything that had happened
Marie |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Bucky O'Connor by William MacLeod Raine: "But one sacred duty calls to us from heaven, my fellow citizens.
Already I see in your glorious faces that you behold the duty.
Then forward, patriots! To the plaza, and let us tear down, let
us destroy by fire, let us annihilate the statue of the dastard
Megales which defaces our fair city. Citizens, to your patriotic
duty!"
Another wild yell rang skyward, and at once the fringes of the
crowd began to vanish plazaward, its centre began to heave, its
flanks to stir. Three minutes later the grounds of the palace
were again dark and empty. The Irishman's oratory had won the
day.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Historical Lecturers and Essays by Charles Kingsley: before the arrows of mere savages; and how their queen, Tomyris,
poured blood down the throat of the dead corpse, with the words,
"Glut thyself with the gore for which thou hast thirsted." But it
may be true--for Xenophon states it expressly, and with detail--that
Cyrus, from the very time of his triumph, became an Eastern despot,
a sultan or a shah, living apart from his people in mysterious
splendour, in the vast fortified palace which he built for himself;
and imitating and causing his nobles and satraps to imitate, in all
but vice and effeminacy, the very Medes whom he had conquered. And
of this there is no doubt--that his sons and their empire ran
rapidly through that same vicious circle of corruption to which all
|
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 Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs: fists she tried to protect herself and drive him away. She
threatened him with the wrath of Naratu, and at that he
changed his tactics and began to plead, and as he argued with
her, promising her safety and eventual freedom, the warrior
he had kicked out of the hut made his staggering way to the
hut occupied by Naratu.
Usanga finding that pleas and promises were as unavailing
as threats, at last lost both his patience and his head, seizing
the girl roughly, and simultaneously there burst into the hut
a raging demon of jealousy. Naratu had come. Kicking,
scratching, striking, biting, she routed the terrified Usanga in
Tarzan the Untamed |
