| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Some Reminiscences by Joseph Conrad: remain true to the emotions called out of the deep encircled by
the firmament of stars, whose infinite numbers and awful
distances may move us to laughter or tears (was it the Walrus or
the Carpenter, in the poem, who "wept to see such quantities of
sand"?), or, again, to a properly steeled heart, may matter
nothing at all.
The casual quotation, which had suggested itself out of a poem
full of merit, leads me to remark that in the conception of a
purely spectacular universe, where inspiration of every sort has
a rational existence, the artist of every kind finds a natural
place; and amongst them the poet as the seer par excellence.
Some Reminiscences |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Desert Gold by Zane Grey: his right, and was surprised at its extent, its considerable number
of adobe houses. The overhanging mountains, ragged and darkening,
a great heave of splintered rock, rather chilled and affronted him.
Westward the setting sun gilded a spiked, frost-colored, limitless
expanse of desert. It awed Gale. Everywhere rose blunt, broken
ranges or isolated groups of mountains. Yet the desert stretched
away down between and beyond them. When the sun set and Gale
could not see so far, he felt a relief.
That grand and austere attraction of distance gone, he saw the
desert nearer at hand--the valley at his feet. What a strange gray,
somber place! There was a lighter strip of gray winding down
Desert Gold |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: especially the case where one person was awaiting her alone;
with two she was more fearless, with a dozen she was buoyant,
and with a hundred she forgot herself utterly and was a spirit
of irresistible delight.
But Kate entered any room, whether nursery or kitchen, as if it
were the private boudoir of a princess and she the favorite
maid of honor. Thus it was she came that morning to Aunt Jane.
"We are going down to see the bathers, dear," said Kate.
"Shall you miss me?"
"I miss you every minute," said her aunt, decisively. "But I
shall do very well. I have delightful times here by myself.
|
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 Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs: an oil lamp, turned low, dimly lighted the interior,
which he saw was unoccupied. Going to the door he
pushed it open and entered the apartment. All was
still within. He listened intently for some slight
sound which might lead him to the victim he sought,
or warn him from the apartment of the girl or that of
von Horn--his business was with Professor Maxon. He did
not wish to disturb the others whom he believed to be
sleeping somewhere within the structure--a low,
rambling bungalow of eight rooms.
Cautiously he approached one of the four doors which
The Monster Men |
