| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: "'We shall be sitting late over the cards,' Fector said in his
harsh, low voice.
"'Don't make more noise than you can help.'
"'Oh! we are a quiet lot. And if the invalid shouldn't be so well,
she will be sure to send one of us down to call you, so that you
may play the doctor again. So don't shoot at sight.'
"'He isn't a shooting man,' struck in Niclaus.
"'I never shoot before making sure there's a reason for it - at any
rate,' said Davidson.
"Bamtz let out a sickly snigger. The Frenchman alone got up to
make a bow to Davidson's careless nod. His stumps were stuck
Within the Tides |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Rinkitink In Oz by L. Frank Baum: them into a corner, where they cowered and begged for
mercy.
Stories of the marvelous strength of the boy Prince
had already spread to the mines of Regos, and although
King Gos had told them that Inga had been deprived of
all his magic power, the guards now saw this was not
true, so they deemed it wise not to attempt to oppose
him.
The chains of the slaves had all been riveted fast to
their ankles and wrists, but Inga broke the bonds of
steel with his hands and set the poor men free -- not
Rinkitink In Oz |
