| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: "Oh, you do quite right, monsieur."
"But why this question?"
"Because, while you were talking with him, I watched you without
listening to you; and, monsieur, his countenance changed color
two or three times!"
"Bah!"
"Preoccupied as Monsieur was with the letter he had received, he
did not observe that; but I, whom the strange fashion in which
that letter came into the house had placed on my guard--I did not
lose a movement of his features."
"And you found it?"
The Three Musketeers |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde: wonderful chance our names being the same!
MRS. ERLYNNE. Quite wonderful. Thanks - it will always remind me
of you. [Shakes hands with her.]
[Enter PARKER.]
PARKER. Lord Augustus Lorton. Mrs. Erlynne's carriage has come.
[Enter LORD AUGUSTUS.]
LORD AUGUSTUS. Good morning, dear boy. Good morning, Lady
Windermere. [Sees MRS. ERLYNNE.] Mrs. Erlynne!
MRS. ERLYNNE. How do you do, Lord Augustus? Are you quite well
this morning?
LORD AUGUSTUS. [Coldly.] Quite well, thank you, Mrs. Erlynne.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: a hurried glance at the stranger. She here awaits the coming of
the night. Under favour of the darkness, which gives her fresh
courage and activity, she re-appears upon the scene and puts the
intruder to flight by her mere presence, aided, if need be, by a
cuff or two. Injured right is the victor.
Morality is satisfied; but let us not congratulate the Spider
therefore. If the invader respects the invaded, it is because very
serious reasons impel her. First, she would have to contend with
an adversary ensconced in a stronghold whose ambushes are unknown
to the assailant. Secondly, the web, if conquered, would be
inconvenient to use, because of the lime-threads, possessing a
The Life of the Spider |
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 Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells: frothing under a freshening breeze, and let these and other strange
memories of the last few days chase one another through my mind.
What could it all mean? A locked enclosure on a lonely island,
a notorious vivisector, and these crippled and distorted men?
VIII. THE CRYING OF THE PUMA.
MONTGOMERY interrupted my tangle of mystification and suspicion
about one o'clock, and his grotesque attendant followed him
with a tray bearing bread, some herbs and other eatables,
a flask of whiskey, a jug of water, and three glasses and knives.
I glanced askance at this strange creature, and found him watching
me with his queer, restless eyes. Montgomery said he would lunch
The Island of Doctor Moreau |
