| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: pealing from their place of worship, the echo which the forest
sent them back seemed often like the chorus of a jolly catch,
closing with a roar of laughter. Who but the fiend, and his bond
slaves, the crew of Merry Mount, had thus disturbed them? In due
time, a feud arose, stern and bitter on one side, and as serious
on the other as anything could be among such light spirits as had
sworn allegiance to the Maypole. The future complexion of New
England was involved in this important quarrel. Should the
grizzly saints establish their jurisdiction over the gay sinners,
then would their spirits darken all the clime, and make it a land
of clouded visages, of hard toil, of sermon and psalm forever.
Twice Told Tales |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Heroes by Charles Kingsley: rage, for the half of Jason's work was over, and the sun was
yet high in heaven.
Then he took the serpents' teeth and sowed them, and waited
what would befall. But Medeia looked at him and at his
helmet, lest he should forget the lesson she had taught.
And every furrow heaved and bubbled, and out of every clod
arose a man. Out of the earth they rose by thousands, each
clad from head to foot in steel, and drew their swords and
rushed on Jason, where he stood in the midst alone.
Then the Minuai grew pale with fear for him; but Aietes
laughed a bitter laugh. 'See! if I had not warriors enough
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Two Brothers by Honore de Balzac: No sooner did this occur, than the Comte de Brambourg went, in deep
mourning, to call on the Comte de Soulanges, and inform him of the sad
loss he had just sustained. Soon after, it was whispered about in the
fashionable world that the Comte de Soulanges would shortly marry his
daughter to a parvenu of great merit, who was about to be appointed
brigadier-general and receive command of a regiment of the Royal
Guard. De Marsay told this news to Eugene de Rastignac, as they were
supping together at the Rocher de Cancale, where Bixiou happened to
be.
"It shall not take place!" said the witty artist to himself.
Among the many old friends whom Philippe now refused to recognize,
|
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 Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: CECILY. Yes, I felt it instinctively, but I couldn't wait all that
time. I hate waiting even five minutes for anybody. It always
makes me rather cross. I am not punctual myself, I know, but I do
like punctuality in others, and waiting, even to be married, is
quite out of the question.
ALGERNON. Then what is to be done, Cecily?
CECILY. I don't know, Mr. Moncrieff.
LADY BRACKNELL. My dear Mr. Worthing, as Miss Cardew states
positively that she cannot wait till she is thirty-five - a remark
which I am bound to say seems to me to show a somewhat impatient
nature - I would beg of you to reconsider your decision.
|
