| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence: queer. He preferred the radio, which he had installed at some expense,
with a good deal of success at last. He could sometimes get Madrid or
Frankfurt, even there in the uneasy Midlands.
And he would sit alone for hours listening to the loudspeaker bellowing
forth. It amazed and stunned Connie. But there he would sit, with a
blank entranced expression on his face, like a person losing his mind,
and listen, or seem to listen, to the unspeakable thing.
Was he really listening? Or was it a sort of soporific he took, whilst
something else worked on underneath in him? Connie did now know. She
fled up to her room, or out of doors to the wood. A kind of terror
filled her sometimes, a terror of the incipient insanity of the whole
Lady Chatterley's Lover |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Cruise of the Jasper B. by Don Marquis: again like the sad and wailing song of some strange bird bereft
of a beloved mate. They were the music for, and the commentary
on, what Cleggett beheld; Cap'n Abernethy seemed to be saying,
with these snores: "If you was to ask me, I'd say it ain't a
cheerful ship this mornin', Mr. Cleggett, it ain't a cheerful
ship."
But Cleggett's nature was too lively and vigorous to remain
clouded for long. By the time the red disk of the sun had crept
above the eastern horizon he had shaken off his fit of the blues.
The sun looked large and bland and friendly, and, somehow, the
partisan of integrity and honor. He drew strength from it.
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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 Vailima Letters by Robert Louis Stevenson: DEATH IN THE POT is an ungodly massacre. O, well, THE OWL
only ends well in so far as some lovers come together, and
nobody is killed at the moment, but you know they are all
doomed, they are Chouan fellows.
FRIDAY, 9TH.
Well, the mail is in; no Blue-book, depressing letter from
C.; a long, amusing ramble from my mother; vast masses of
Romeike; they ARE going to war now; and what will that lead
to? and what has driven, them to it but the persistent
misconduct of these two officials? I know I ought to rewrite
the end of this bluidy EBB TIDE: well, I can't. CEST PLUS
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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 Richard III by William Shakespeare: Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave,
I'll muster up my friends and meet your Grace
Where and what time your Majesty shall please.
KING RICHARD. Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with
Richmond;
But I'll not trust thee.
STANLEY. Most mighty sovereign,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful.
I never was nor never will be false.
KING RICHARD. Go, then, and muster men. But leave behind
Your son, George Stanley. Look your heart be firm,
Richard III |
