| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Soul of a Bishop by H. G. Wells: without incivility. After all he had asked to see her, and it was
a foolish thing to let little decorative accidentals put him off
his friendly purpose. A woman may have flower-pots painted gold
with black checkers and still be deeply understanding. He
determined to tell her what was in his mind. But he found
something barred him from telling that he had had an actual
vision of God. It was as if that had been a private and
confidential meeting. It wasn't, he felt, for him either to boast
a privilege or tell others of things that God had not chosen to
show them.
"Since I saw you," he said, "I have thought a great deal--of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: finish his business, and then he would be at liberty to talk over
with me that matter of quarter-bags. This programme was breathed
out at me through slightly parted, still lips; his heavy,
motionless glance rested upon me, placid as ever, the glance of a
tired man - but I felt that it was searching, too. I could not
imagine what he was looking for in me and kept silent, wondering.
"I am asking you to wait for me in my house till I am at liberty to
talk this matter over. You will?"
"Why, of course!" I cried.
"But I cannot promise - "
"I dare say not," I said. "I don't expect a promise."
'Twixt Land & Sea |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: "The clan," said Lord Menteith, "with whom the maternal uncle of
the M'Aulays had been placed in feud, was a small sept of
banditti, called, from their houseless state, and their
incessantly wandering among the mountains and glens, the Children
of the Mist. They are a fierce and hardy people, with all the
irritability, and wild and vengeful passions, proper to men who
have never known the restraint of civilized society. A party of
them lay in wait for the unfortunate Warden of the Forest,
surprised him while hunting alone and unattended, and slew him
with every circumstance of inventive cruelty. They cut off his
head, and resolved, in a bravado, to exhibit it at the castle of
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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 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: alone, and never practices in the presence of any one."
"Not even before you, Philip? Then who loads his pistol?"
"His servant."
"A Nubian?"
"A negro."
"It is he, then."
"Do you know this gentleman?"
"Yes, and I am come to look for him; he is a friend of
mine."
"Oh, that is quite another thing, then. I will go
immediately and inform him of your arrival." And Philip,
The Count of Monte Cristo |
