| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tapestried Chamber by Walter Scott: of the century, with a coiffure of murrey-coloured silk, and its
hundred strange-shaped boxes, providing for arrangements which
had been obsolete for more than fifty years, had an antique, and
in so far a melancholy, aspect. But nothing could blaze more
brightly and cheerfully than the two large wax candles; or if
aught could rival them, it was the flaming, bickering fagots in
the chimney, that sent at once their gleam and their warmth
through the snug apartment, which, notwithstanding the general
antiquity of its appearance, was not wanting in the least
convenience that modern habits rendered either necessary or
desirable.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Rom. Alacke there lies more perill in thine eye,
Then twenty of their Swords, looke thou but sweete,
And I am proofe against their enmity
Iul. I would not for the world they saw thee here
Rom. I haue nights cloake to hide me from their eyes
And but thou loue me, let them finde me here,
My life were better ended by their hate,
Then death proroged wanting of thy Loue
Iul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
Rom. By Loue that first did prompt me to enquire,
He lent me counsell, and I lent him eyes,
Romeo and Juliet |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain: sort to make the judicious weep. Those whose withers were unwrung
laughed till the tears ran down; the reporters, in throes of
laughter, set down disordered pot-hooks which would never in the
world be decipherable; and a sleeping dog jumped up scared out of
its wits, and barked itself crazy at the turmoil. All manner of
cries were scattered through the din: "We're getting rich--TWO
Symbols of Incorruptibility!--without counting Billson!" "THREE!--
count Shadbelly in--we can't have too many!" "All right--Billson's
elected!" "Alas, poor Wilson! victim of TWO thieves!"
A Powerful Voice. "Silence! The Chair's fished up something more
out of its pocket."
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg |
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 Heroes by Charles Kingsley: to weep; and blessed the heavens which had brought his nephew
to him, never to leave him more. 'For,' said he, 'I have but
three daughters, and no son to be my heir. You shall be my
heir then, and rule the kingdom after me, and marry
whichsoever of my daughters you shall choose; though a sad
kingdom you will find it, and whosoever rules it a miserable
man. But come in, come in, and feast.'
So he drew Jason in, whether he would or not, and spoke to
him so lovingly and feasted him so well, that Jason's anger
passed; and after supper his three cousins came into the
hall, and Jason thought that he should like well enough to
|
