| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Taras Bulba and Other Tales by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol: "Hey, Ostap, Ostap!" But something at that moment struck him like a
heavy stone. All grew dim and confused before his eyes. In one moment
there flashed confusedly before him heads, spears, smoke, the gleam of
fire, tree-trunks, and leaves; and then he sank heavily to the earth
like a felled oak, and darkness covered his eyes.
CHAPTER X
"I have slept a long while!" said Taras, coming to his senses, as if
after a heavy drunken sleep, and trying to distinguish the objects
about him. A terrible weakness overpowered his limbs. The walls and
corners of a strange room were dimly visible before him. At length he
perceived that Tovkatch was seated beside him, apparently listening to
Taras Bulba and Other Tales |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Weir of Hermiston by Robert Louis Stevenson: "Well," Frank would continue, "candidly, I don't say it's pleasant. He
has a very rough way with him; his father's son, you know. I don't say
he's rude - of course, I couldn't be expected to stand that - but he
steers very near the wind. No, it's not pleasant; but I tell ye, man,
in conscience I don't think it would be fair to leave him. Mind you, I
don't say there's anything actually wrong. What I say is that I don't
like the looks of it, man!" and he would press the arm of his momentary
confidant.
In the early stages I am persuaded there was no malice. He talked but
for the pleasure of airing himself. He was essentially glib, as becomes
the young advocate, and essentially careless of the truth, which is the
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Finished by H. Rider Haggard: things I missed the bag of jewels. I called to Nombe and asked
where Kaatje was, whereon she smiled and said that she had gone
away, taking the bag with her. This pained me, for I had always
found Kaatje quite honest--"
"Which she is," I remarked, "for those jewels are now in a bank
at Maritzburg."
Heda nodded and went on, "I am glad to hear it; indeed,
remembering what Zikali had said, I never really suspected her of
being a thief, but thought it was all part of some plan. After
this things went on as before, except that Nombe took Kaatje's
place and was with me day and night. Of Kaatje's disappearance
|
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 Kenilworth by Walter Scott: "Saw you my signal from the court beneath?"
"I did," said Alasco, for by such name he was at present called,
"and shaped the horoscope accordingly."
"And it passed upon the patron without challenge?" continued
Varney.
"Not without challenge," replied the old man, "but it did pass;
and I added, as before agreed, danger from a discovered secret,
and a western youth."
"My lord's fear will stand sponsor to the one, and his conscience
to the other, of these prognostications," replied Varney. "Sure
never man chose to run such a race as his, yet continued to
Kenilworth |
