The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare: Of things long since, or anything ensuing? 1078
The flowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim;
But true-sweet beauty liv'd and died with him.
'Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear! 1081
Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you:
Having no fair to lose, you need not fear;
The sun doth scorn you, and the wind doth hiss you:
But when Adonis liv'd, sun and sharp air 1085
Lurk'd like two thieves, to rob him of his fair:
'And therefore would he put his bonnet on,
Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep; 1088
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from When the World Shook by H. Rider Haggard: "Even the Rock of Offerings has vanished beneath the water, and
with it the house that we built for you."
"Yes," I said, affecting no surprise. "But when did that
happen?"
"Five nights ago the world shook, Friend-from-the-Sea, and when
the sun rose we saw that the mouth of the cave which appeared on
the day of your coming, had vanished, and that the holy mountain
itself had sunk deep, so that now only the crest of it is left
above the water."
"Such things happen," I replied carelessly.
"Yes, Friend-from-the-Sea. Like many other marvels they happen
When the World Shook |