| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: Armenians the Russians would; and we," said Peter, looking exceedingly
knowing, "we've got to prevent that: they'd get the land; and it's on the
road to India. And we don't mean them to. I suppose you don't know much
about politics in Palestine?" said Peter, looking kindly and patronisingly
at the stranger.
"If these men," said the stranger, "would rather be free, or be under the
British Government, than under the Chartered Company, why, when they resist
the Chartered Company, are they more rebels than the Armenians when they
resist the Turk? Is the Chartered Company God, that every knee should bow
before it, and before it every head be bent? Would you, the white men of
England, submit to its rule for one day?"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Several Works by Edgar Allan Poe: Let me see, then, what thereat is and this mystery explore--
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;--
'Tis the wind and nothing more.
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he,
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door--
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door--
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then the ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
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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 Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: The steps of the Acropolis were occupied by the multitude. In the
square of Khamon the people were pressing forwards to see the Suffet
come out, and the terraces were gradually being loaded with people; a
few recognised him, and he was saluted; but he retired in order the
better to excite the impatience of the people.
Hamilcar found the most important men of his party below in the hall:
Istatten, Subeldia, Hictamon, Yeoubas and others. They related to him
all that had taken place since the conclusion of the peace: the greed
of the Ancients, the departure of the soldiers, their return, their
demands, the capture of Gisco, the theft of the zaimph, the relief and
subsequent abandonment of Utica; but no one ventured to tell him of
Salammbo |
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 Touchstone by Edith Wharton: showed me the originals."
"What does that prove? There were fifty ways of finding out.
It's the kind of thing one can easily do."
Flamel glanced at him with contempt. "Our ideas probably differ
as to what a man can easily do. It would not have been easy for
me."
Glennard's anger vented itself in the words uppermost in his
thought. "It may, then, interest you to hear that my wife DOES
know about the letters--has known for some months. . . ."
"Ah," said the other, slowly. Glennard saw that, in his blind
clutch at a weapon, he had seized the one most apt to wound.
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