| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield: "Sleepy, Jug?" Constantia was wide-eyed.
"Well, concentrate more," said Josephine sharply, and she returned to the
subject. "What it comes to is, if we did"--and this she barely breathed,
glancing at the door--"give Kate notice"--she raised her voice again--"we
could manage our own food."
"Why not?" cried Constantia. She couldn't help smiling. The idea was so
exciting. She clasped her hands. "What should we live on, Jug?"
"Oh, eggs in various forms!" said Jug, lofty again. "And, besides, there
are all the cooked foods."
"But I've always heard," said Constantia, "they are considered so very
expensive."
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: to get my throat cut in a bog-hole with Amyas Leigh."
"Earnest, Will?"
"As I am a sinful man."
"Well done, young hawk of the White Cliff!"
"I had rather have called it Gallantry Bower still, though," said
Will, punning on the double name of the noble precipice which forms
the highest point of the deer park.
"Well, as long as you are on land, you know it is Gallantry Bower
still: but we always call it White Cliff when you see it from the
sea-board, as you and I shall do, I hope, to-morrow evening."
"What, so soon?"
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: them[1] that they believed in a supreme Creator and Lord
"omnipresent, knowing all thoughts, giving all gifts, without
whom Man is as nothing--invisible, incorporeal, one God,
of perfect perfection and purity, under whose wings we
find repose and a sure defence." How can we reconcile
St. Augustine with his own devilish creed, or the
religious belief of the Aztecs with their unspeakable cruelties?
Perhaps we can only reconcile them by remembering
out of what deeps of barbarism and what nightmares
of haunting Fear, man has slowly emerged--and
is even now only slowly emerging; by remembering also
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
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 School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan: SIR PETER. Two hundred Pounds! what an't I to be in a good humour
without paying for it--but speak to me thus--and Efaith there's
nothing I could refuse you. You shall have it--but seal me a bond
for the repayment.
LADY TEAZLE. O no--there--my Note of Hand will do as well--
SIR PETER. And you shall no longer reproach me with not giving you
an independent settlement--I shall shortly surprise you--and you'll
not call me ungenerous--but shall we always live thus--hey?
LADY TEAZLE. If you--please--I'm sure I don't care how soon we leave
off quarrelling provided you'll own you were tired first--
SIR PETER. Well--then let our future contest be who shall be most
|
