| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: parte eorum precibus adductus bellum susceperit[; multo etiam gravius quod
sit destitutus queritur].
Tum demum Liscus oratione Caesaris adductus quod antea tacuerat
proponit: esse non nullos, quorum auctoritas apud plebem plurimum valeat,
qui privatim plus possint quam ipsi magistratus. Hos seditiosa atque
improba oratione multitudinem deterrere, ne frumentum conferant quod
debeant: praestare, si iam principatum Galliae obtinere non possint,
Gallorum quam Romanorum imperia perferre, neque dubitare [debeant] quin,
si Helvetios superaverint Romani, una cum reliqua Gallia Haeduis
libertatem sint erepturi. Ab isdem nostra consilia quaeque in castris
gerantur hostibus enuntiari; hos a se coerceri non posse. Quin etiam,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Beast in the Jungle by Henry James: the first time in the year, without a fire; a fact that, to
Marcher's sense, gave the scene of which she formed part a smooth
and ultimate look, an air of knowing, in its immaculate order and
cold meaningless cheer, that it would never see a fire again. Her
own aspect--he could scarce have said why--intensified this note.
Almost as white as wax, with the marks and signs in her face as
numerous and as fine as if they had been etched by a needle, with
soft white draperies relieved by a faded green scarf on the
delicate tone of which the years had further refined, she was the
picture of a serene and exquisite but impenetrable sphinx, whose
head, or indeed all whose person, might have been powdered with
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs: and criminal whims."
The Malay was thinking fast, and could von Horn have
guessed what thoughts raced through the tortuous
channels of that semi-barbarous brain he would have
wished himself safely housed in the American prison
where he belonged.
"When do you wish to sail?" asked the Malay.
"Tonight," replied von Horn, and together they matured
their plans. An hour later the second mate with six
men disappeared into the jungle toward the harbor.
They, with the three on watch, were to get the vessel
The Monster Men |
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 Ruling Passion by Henry van Dyke: By the old law Jean was probably a marquis with a castle. By the
new law?--Frankly, he could not advise a client to incur any more
expense. In fact, he intended to return the amount already paid. A
hundred and ten dollars, was it not? Yes, and fifty dollars for the
six weeks of nursing. VOILA, a draft on Montreal, a hundred and
sixty dollars,--as good as gold! And beside that, there was the
incalculable debt for this great kindness to a sick man, for which
he would always be M. de la Motte's grateful debtor!
The lawyer's pock-marked face--the scars still red and angry--lit up
with a curious mixed light of shrewdness and gratitude. Jean was
somewhat moved. His castle was in ruins. But he remained noble--by
|
