| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: aim is, to take my gentleman off his guard, and, like an invisible
champion of romance, examine the giant's force before I offer to
combat.
MAID. But you are sure you can act your part, and disguise your voice
so that he may mistake that, as he has already mistaken your person?
MISS HARDCASTLE. Never fear me. I think I have got the true bar
cant--Did your honour call?--Attend the Lion there--Pipes and tobacco
for the Angel.--The Lamb has been outrageous this half-hour.
MAID. It will do, madam. But he's here. [Exit MAID.]
Enter MARLOW.
MARLOW. What a bawling in every part of the house! I have scarce a
She Stoops to Conquer |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: It is said that John Tyndall, whose lectures on Science were
so much sought after in their time, being on one occasion in
New York was accosted after his discourse by a very successful
American business man, who urged him to devote his scientific
knowledge and ability to commercial pursuits, promising that
if he did so, he, Tyndall, would easily make "a big pile."
Tyndall very calmly replied, "Well, I myself thought of that
once, but I soon abandoned the idea, having come to the
conclusion that I had NO TIME TO WASTE IN MAKING MONEY." The
man of dollars nearly sank into the ground. Such a conception
of life had never entered his head before. But to Tyndall no
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Silas Marner by George Eliot: "Ah! but the old gentleman and you are two folks," said Ben
Winthrop. "The old gentleman's got a gift. Why, the Squire used
to invite him to take a glass, only to hear him sing the "Red
Rovier"; didn't he, Mr. Macey? It's a nat'ral gift. There's my
little lad Aaron, he's got a gift--he can sing a tune off
straight, like a throstle. But as for you, Master Tookey, you'd
better stick to your "Amens": your voice is well enough when you
keep it up in your nose. It's your inside as isn't right made for
music: it's no better nor a hollow stalk."
This kind of unflinching frankness was the most piquant form of joke
to the company at the Rainbow, and Ben Winthrop's insult was felt by
Silas Marner |
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 Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: though I wanted to hypnotize him, and think, "Go, go, go! . . ."
But he is not amenable to thought-suggestion, and sits on and on
and on. . . .
While he is with me I can never shake off the thought, "It's
possible when I die he will be appointed to succeed me," and my
poor lecture-hall presents itself to me as an oasis in which the
spring is died up; and I am ungracious, silent, and surly with
Pyotr Ignatyevitch, as though he were to blame for such thoughts,
and not I myself. When he begins, as usual, praising up the
German savants, instead of making fun of him good-humouredly, as
I used to do, I mutter sullenly:
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