| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: tried to avoid meeting, and which yet he sought inquiringly
from time to time, placed him on the rack. As for Louise,
whether from natural timidity, or some other reason for
which Raoul could not account, she kept her eyes constantly
cast down; intimidated, dazzled, and with impeded
respiration, she withdrew herself as much as possible aside,
unaffected even by the nudges Montalais gave her with her
elbow. The whole scene was a perfect enigma for Raoul, the
key to which he would have given anything to obtain. But no
one was there who could assist him, not even Malicorne; who,
a little uneasy at finding himself in the presence of so
Ten Years Later |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Whirligigs by O. Henry: a woman. Women circumlocute. Time is wasted when
both sides in debate employ the same tactics.
"As a lawyer, sir," began the lady, "you may have
acquired some knowledge of the human heart. Do you
believe that the pusillanimous and petty conventions of
our artificial social life should stand as an obstacle in
the way of a noble and affectionate heart when it finds its
true mate among the miserable and worthless wretches
in the world that are called men?"
"Madam," said Lawyer Gooch, in the tone that he
used in curbing his female clients, "this is an office for
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: had fallen from him. He looked up at his old friend and, smiling,
answered him. "It means, Nick, that whilst these excellent boots that
Walters would have me wear might be well enough for a ride to the coast
such as you propose, they are not at all suited to the journey I intend
to make."
"Maybe," said Nick with a sniff, "you're intending to journey to
Tower Hill ?"
"In that direction," answered Mr. Wilding suavely.
"I am for London, Nick. And you shall come with me."
"God save us! Do you keep a fool's egg under that nest of hair?"
Wilding explained, and by the time Walters returned with the boots
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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 Koran: be spent; verily, God is mighty, wise!
Your creation and your rising again are but as that of one soul;
verily, God both hears and sees!
Dost thou not see that God joins on the night to the day, and
joins on the day to the night, and has subjected the sun and the
moon,-each of them runs on unto an appointed time? and that God of
what ye do is well aware?
That is because God, He is true, and because what ye call on
beside Him is falsehood, and because God, He is the high, the great!
Dost thou not see that the ship rides on in the sea by the favour of
God, that He may show you of His signs? verily, in that are signs to
The Koran |
