| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy: to have moved from their cramped quarters on the peak
of Olympus into the wide sky above it, their words show
a proportionate increase of arrogance and reserve.
Footsteps were heard in the passage, combining in
their character the qualities both of weight and measure,
rather at the expense of velocity.
(All.) "Here's Billy Smallbury come from Caster-
bridge."
"And what's the news?" said Bathsheba, as William,
after marching to the middle of the hall, took a hand-
kerchief from his hat and wiped his forehead from its
Far From the Madding Crowd |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Georgics by Virgil: Dwell free and careless; to their hearths they heave
Oak-logs and elm-trees whole, and fire them there,
There play the night out, and in festive glee
With barm and service sour the wine-cup mock.
So 'neath the seven-starred Hyperborean wain
The folk live tameless, buffeted with blasts
Of Eurus from Rhipaean hills, and wrap
Their bodies in the tawny fells of beasts.
If wool delight thee, first, be far removed
All prickly boskage, burrs and caltrops; shun
Luxuriant pastures; at the outset choose
Georgics |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Twelve Stories and a Dream by H. G. Wells: spoke of "him," never of Mr. Snooks,--because Helen was apt to say
unsympathetic things about him. Her nature had coarsened very much,
Miss Winchelsea perceived, since the old Training College days;
she had become hard and cynical. She thought he had a weak face,
mistaking refinement for weakness as people of her stamp are apt
to do, and when she heard his name was Snooks, she said she had
expected something of the sort. Miss Winchelsea was careful to spare
her own feelings after that, but Fanny was less circumspect.
The girls parted in London, and Miss Winchelsea returned, with
a new interest in life, to the Girls' High School in which she had
been an increasingly valuable assistant for the last three years.
|
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 Ivanhoe by Walter Scott: ``It was she, then,'' said the yeoman, ``who was
carried off by the proud Templar, when he broke
through our ranks on yester-even. I had drawn
my bow to send a shaft after him, but spared him
even for the sake of the damsel, who I feared might
take harm from the arrow.''
``Oh!'' answered the Jew, ``I would to God
thou hadst shot, though the arrow had pierced her
bosom!---Better the tomb of her fathers than the
dishonourable couch of the licentious and savage
Templar. Ichabod! Ichabod! the glory hath departed
Ivanhoe |
