| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: Malays will do, at the Sissie anchored in the stream. She was
almost as wonderful to them as an angel's visit. Many of the old
people had only heard vaguely of fire-ships, and not many of the
younger generation had seen one. On the back path Davidson
strolled in perfect solitude. But he became aware of a bad smell
and concluded he would go no farther.
"While he stood wiping his forehead, he heard from somewhere the
exclamation: 'My God! It's Davy!'
"Davidson's lower jaw, as he expressed it, came unhooked at the
crying of this excited voice. Davy was the name used by the
associates of his young days; he hadn't heard it for many years.
Within the Tides |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Vendetta by Honore de Balzac: vast house, lost in the immensity of Paris, like two pearls in their
shell in the depths of ocean; to all others it might have seemed a
prison; to them it was paradise.
The first few days of their union were given to love. The effort to
turn at once to work was too difficult; they could not resist the
charm of their own passion. Luigi lay for hours at the feet of his
wife, admiring the color of her hair, the moulding of her forehead,
the enchanting socket of her eyes, the purity and whiteness of the two
arches beneath which the eyes themselves turned slowly, expressing the
happiness of a satisfied love. Ginevra caressed the hair of her Luigi,
never weary of gazing at what she called his "belta folgorante," and
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: bounded so swiftly from one to another without getting hurt."
"That is all guesswork," declared the Wizard, unwinding the blankets
from his body, "for none of us stayed long enough on the mountains to
discover what they are made of. But where are we?"
"That's guesswork," said Scraps. "The shepherd said the
Thistle-Eaters live this side of the mountains and are waited on by
giants."
"Oh no," said Dorothy, "it's the Herkus who have giant slaves, and the
Thistle-Eaters hitch dragons to their chariots."
"How could they do that?" asked the Woozy. "Dragons have long tails,
which would get in the way of the chariot wheels."
The Lost Princess of Oz |
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 Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte: the wife, not hers to please him; and if he isn't satisfied with
her as she is - and thankful to possess her too - he isn't worthy
of her, that's all. And as for persuasion, I assure you I shan't
trouble myself with that: I've enough to do to bear with him as he
is, without attempting to work a reform. But I'm sorry I left you
so long alone, Miss Grey. How have you passed the time?'
'Chiefly in watching the rooks.'
'Mercy, how dull you must have been! I really must show you the
library; and you must ring for everything you want, just as you
would in an inn, and make yourself comfortable. I have selfish
reasons for wishing to make you happy, because I want you to stay
Agnes Grey |
