| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Hidden Masterpiece by Honore de Balzac: body? The same phenomenon which we notice around fishes in the water
is also about objects which float in air. See how these outlines
spring forth from the background. Do you not feel that you could pass
your hand behind those shoulders? For seven years have I studied these
effects of light coupled with form. That hair,--is it not bathed in
light? Why, she breathes! That bosom,--see! Ah! who would not worship
it on bended knee? The flesh palpitates! Wait, she is about to rise;
wait!"
"Can you see anything?" whispered Poussin to Porbus.
"Nothing. Can you?"
"No."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Falk by Joseph Conrad: air and secure a quick despatch for his ship a skip-
per would be justified in going to any length, short
of absolute crime. He should put his pride in his
pocket; he may accept confidences; explain his in-
nocence as if it were a sin; he may take advantage
of misconceptions, of desires and of weaknesses; he
ought to conceal his horror and other emotions,
and, if the fate of a human being, and that human
being a magnificent young girl, is strangely in-
volved--why, he should contemplate that fate
(whatever it might seem to be) without turning a
Falk |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie: die--anyway, I am *NOT provided for! And I don't know what to do.
Do you think I ought to go away from here at once?"
"Good heavens, no! They don't want to part with you, I'm sure."
Cynthia hesitated a moment, plucking up the grass with her tiny
hands. Then she said: "Mrs. Cavendish does. She hates me."
"Hates you?" I cried, astonished.
Cynthia nodded.
"Yes. I don't know why, but she can't bear me; and *HE can't,
either."
"There I know you're wrong," I said warmly. "On the contrary,
John is very fond of you."
The Mysterious Affair at Styles |
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 Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: DEAR HENLEY, - To answer a point or two. First, the Spanish ship
was sloop-rigged and clumsy, because she was fitted out by some
private adventurers, not over wealthy, and glad to take what they
could get. Is that not right? Tell me if you think not. That, at
least, was how I meant it. As for the boat-cloaks, I am afraid
they are, as you say, false imagination; but I love the name,
nature, and being of them so dearly, that I feel as if I would
almost rather ruin a story than omit the reference. The proudest
moments of my life have been passed in the stern-sheets of a boat
with that romantic garment over my shoulders. This, without
prejudice to one glorious day when standing upon some water stairs
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