| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy: members of the family, went to his room and placed
his watch, silver cigarette-case, pocket-book,
big leather purse, and pocket-brush and comb on a
small table covered with a white cloth, and then,
taking off his coat, waistcoat, shirt, trousers, and
underclothes, his silk socks and English boots, put
on his nightshirt and dressing-gown. His watch
pointed to midnight. Volgin smoked a cigarette,
lay on his face for about five minutes reviewing
the day's impressions; then, blowing out his
candle, he turned over on his side and fell asleep
The Forged Coupon |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Under the Andes by Rex Stout: passage. But they brought only oil to fill the urns, and after
performing this duty departed, without a glance at the lake or any
exhibition of surprise at the absence of their fellows.
Every now and then there was a commotion in some part of the
lake, and we could occasionally see a black, glistening body leap
into the air and fall again into the water.
"I'm hungry," Harry announced suddenly. "I wonder if we
couldn't turn the trick on that raft ourselves?"
The same thought had occurred to me, but Harry's impulsiveness
had made me fearful of expressing it. I hesitated.
"We've got to do something," he continued.
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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 The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: better effect."
She looked at de Montauran fixedly; then, delighted to be attacked by
the man whose life she held in her hands, she said in a low voice,
smiling softly: "Your head is a very poor one; the executioner does
not want it; I shall keep it myself."
The marquis looked at the inexplicable girl, whose love had overcome
all, even insult, and who now avenged herself by forgiving that which
women are said never to forgive. His eyes grew less stern, less cold;
a look of sadness came upon his face. His love was stronger than he
suspected. Mademoiselle de Verneuil, satisfied with these faint signs
of a desired reconciliation, glanced at him tenderly, with a smile
The Chouans |
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 Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: the rustle of leaves and the murmur of water hushed in a growing
sound that Venters fancied was not of earth. Neither had he a
name for this, only it was inexpressibly wild and sweet. The
thought came that it might be a moan of the girl in her last
outcry of life, and he felt a tremor shake him. But no! This
sound was not human, though it was like despair. He began to
doubt his sensitive perceptions, to believe that he half-dreamed
what he thought he heard. Then the sound swelled with the
strengthening of the breeze, and he realized it was the singing
of the wind in the cliffs.
By and by a drowsiness overcame him, and Venters began to nod,
Riders of the Purple Sage |
