| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: remaining creatures to whom he might look for companionship--the
great apes. For months the two had wandered eastward, deeper and
deeper into the jungle. The year had done much for the boy--turning
his already mighty muscles to thews of steel, developing his
woodcraft to a point where it verged upon the uncanny, perfecting
his arboreal instincts, and training him in the use of both natural
and artificial weapons.
He had become at last a creature of marvelous physical powers
and mental cunning. He was still but a boy, yet so great was
his strength that the powerful anthropoid with which he often
engaged in mimic battle was no match for him. Akut had taught
The Son of Tarzan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley: be done to me?
I know: but what are all the birds doing?
Look at the water, how it sparkles. It is alive with tiny fish,
"fry," "brett" as we call them in the West, which the mackerel are
driving up to the top.
Poor little things! How hard on them! The big fish at them from
below, and the birds at them from above. And what is that?
Thousands of fish leaping out of the water, scrambling over each
other's backs. What a curious soft rushing roaring noise they
make!
Aha! The eaters are going to be eaten in turn. Those are the
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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 Man against the Sky by Edwin Arlington Robinson: Than theirs; but anguish has no eye for grace,
When time's malicious mercy cautions them
To think a while of number and of space.
The burning hope, the worn expectancy,
The martyred humor, and the maimed allure,
Cry out for time to end his levity,
And age to soften its investiture;
But they, though others fade and are still fair,
Defy their fairness and are unsubdued;
Although they suffer, they may not forswear
The patient ardor of the unpursued.
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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 Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: at cards," replied the fellow.
The count leaned across the table, and struck the man full
in the mouth with his open palm, and then the others closed
in between them.
"There is some mistake, sir," cried one of the other players.
"Why, this is Count de Coude, of France."
"If I am mistaken," said the accuser, "I shall gladly apologize;
but before I do so first let monsieur le count explain
the extra cards which I saw him drop into his side pocket."
And then the man whom Tarzan had seen drop them there
turned to sneak from the room, but to his annoyance he
The Return of Tarzan |
