| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Rescue by Joseph Conrad: then. You are the only one that has half a chance to get through-
-and Tom, maybe, is waiting."
"The only one," repeated Mrs. Travers with an abrupt movement
forward and an extended hand before which Jorgenson stepped back
a pace. "Risk it! Certainly! Where's that mysterious ring?"
"I have got it in my pocket," said Jorgenson, readily; yet nearly
half a minute elapsed before Mrs. Travers felt the characteristic
shape being pressed into her half-open palm. "Don't let anybody
see it," Jorgenson admonished her in a murmur. "Hide it somewhere
about you. Why not hang it round your neck?"
Mrs. Travers' hand remained firmly closed on the ring. "Yes, that
The Rescue |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Melmoth Reconciled by Honore de Balzac: your soul to the Devil! But there is neither a God nor a Devil; it is
all nonsense out of nursery tales and old wives' talk. What shall I
do?"
"If you have a mind to sell your soul to the Devil, sir," said the
house-painter, who had overheard something that the clerk let fall,
"you can have the ten thousand francs."
"And Euphrasia!" cried the clerk, as he struck a bargain with the
devil that inhabited the house-painter.
The pact concluded, the frantic clerk went to find the shawl, and
mounted Madame Euphrasia's staircase; and as (literally) the devil was
in him, he did not come down for twelve days, drowning the thought of
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: "That does not matter," he answered. "I simply want to see the place--
that is all. Give me the key."
"And here is the key, sir," said the old lady, going over
the contents of her bunch with tremulously uncertain hands.
"Here is the key. I'll have it off the bunch in a moment.
But you don't think of living up there, sir, and you so
comfortable here?"
"No, no," he cried petulantly. "Thank you, Leaf. That will do."
She lingered for a few moments, and was garrulous over some detail
of the household. He sighed and told her to manage things as she
thought best. She left the room, wreathed in smiles.
The Picture of Dorian Gray |
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: except themselves, then the testimony of one of them shall be to
testify four times that, by God, he is of those who speak the truth;
and the fifth testimony shall be that the curse of God shall be on him
if he be of those who lie. And it shall avert the punishment from
her if she bears testimony four times that, by God, he is of those who
lie; and the fifth that the wrath of God shall be on her if he be of
those who speak the truth.
And were it not for God's grace upon you and His mercy, and that God
is relenting, wise...
Verily, those who bring forward the lie, a band of you,-reckon it
not as an evil for you, nay, it is good for- you; every man of them
The Koran |
