| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs: with horror. Grasping the tree's stem with his powerful
paws he dragged down with all the great weight of his
huge bulk and all the irresistible force of those
mighty muscles. Slowly, but surely, the stem began to
bend toward him. Inch by inch he worked his paws upward
as the tree leaned more and more from the perpendicular.
Perry clung chattering in a panic of terror. Higher and
higher into the bending and swaying tree he clambered.
More and more rapidly was the tree top inclining toward
the ground.
I saw now why the great brute was armed with such
At the Earth's Core |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac: profits. Nothing was lacking now to his happiness; on the morrow he
would have his thousand francs, and, as a consequence, his magnificent
new coach.
CHAPTER VI
THE MOREAU INTERIOR
Oscar, somewhat abashed, was skulking behind a clump of trees in the
centre of the court-yard, and watching to see what became of his two
road-companions, when Monsieur Moreau suddenly came out upon the
portico from what was called the guard-room. He was dressed in a long
blue overcoat which came to his heels, breeches of yellowish leather
and top-boots, and in his hand he carried a riding-whip.
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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 The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: ferried ower frae Dunkirk forbye the pouther. Awfu' work we had
getting them into the tower under cloud o' night, for ye maun
think it wasna everybody could be trusted wi' sic kittle jobs.
But if ye will gae hame to your supper, I will tell you a' about
it as ye gang down."
"And these wretched boys," said Ravenswood, "is it your pleasure
they are to sit there all night, to wait for the blowing up of a
tower that is not even on fire?"
"Surely not, if it is your honour's pleasure that they suld gang
hame; although," added Caleb, "it wadna do them a grain's
damage: they wad screigh less the next day, and sleep the
The Bride of Lammermoor |
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 A Drama on the Seashore by Honore de Balzac: you to say nothing about it. As for you,' he said to Jacques, 'if you
do not amend, the next offence you commit will be your last; I shall
end it without confession.'
"And he sent him to bed. The lad thought he could still get round his
father. He slept. His father watched. When he saw that his son was
soundly asleep, he covered his mouth with tow, blindfolded him
tightly, bound him hand and foot--'He raged, he wept blood,' my mother
heard Cambremer say to the lawyer. The mother threw herself at the
father's feet.
"'He is judged and condemned,' replied Pierre; 'you must now help me
carry him to the boat.'
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