| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Jolly Corner by Henry James: disown him, as I knew him - which you at last, confronted with him
in his difference, so cruelly didn't, my dear, - well, he must have
been, you see, less dreadful to me. And it may have pleased him
that I pitied him."
She was beside him on her feet, but still holding his hand - still
with her arm supporting him. But though it all brought for him
thus a dim light, "You 'pitied' him?" he grudgingly, resentfully
asked.
"He has been unhappy, he has been ravaged," she said.
"And haven't I been unhappy? Am not I - you've only to look at me!
- ravaged?"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: forgiveness for thee, though I cannot control aught from God!' O our
Lord! on thee do we rely! and unto thee we turn! and unto thee the
journey is!
Our Lord! make us not a trial for those who misbelieve; but
forgive us! Our Lord! verily, thou art mighty, wise!
Ye had in them a good example for him who would hope in God and
the last day. But whoso turns his back, verily, God, He is rich and to
be praised.
Mayhap that God will place love between you and between those of
them ye are hostile towards: for God is powerful, and God is
forgiving, compassionate.
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: He was called "the great lawyer"--an earned title. He and Driscoll
were of the same age--a year or two past sixty.
Although Driscoll was a freethinker and Howard a strong and
determined Presbyterian, their warm intimacy suffered no
impairment in consequence. They were men whose opinions were
their own property and not subject to revision and amendment,
suggestion or criticism, by anybody, even their friends.
The day's fishing finished, they came floating downstream in their skiff,
talking national politics and other high matters, and presently met
a skiff coming up from town, with a man in it who said:
"I reckon you know one of the new twins gave your nephew a
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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 Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence: "Eh, there are so few, it will only take a minute," said the other.
Clara, however, dried the tea-things, and was glad to be on
such good terms with his mother; but it was torture not to be able
to follow him down the garden. At last she allowed herself to go;
she felt as if a rope were taken off her ankle.
The afternoon was golden over the hills of Derbyshire. He stood
across in the other garden, beside a bush of pale Michaelmas daisies,
watching the last bees crawl into the hive. Hearing her coming,
he turned to her with an easy motion, saying:
"It's the end of the run with these chaps."
Clara stood near him. Over the low red wall in front was
Sons and Lovers |
