| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Beasts of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: a cluster of native huts encircled by a thorn boma.
At the village gate they were admitted by a native woman,
the wife of the chief whom Anderssen had paid to assist him.
She took them to the chief's hut, but Anderssen said that they
would sleep without upon the ground, and so, her duty having
been completed, she left them to their own devices.
The Swede, after explaining in his gruff way that the huts
were doubtless filthy and vermin-ridden, spread Jane's
blankets on the ground for her, and at a little distance
unrolled his own and lay down to sleep.
It was some time before the girl could find a comfortable
The Beasts of Tarzan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Moral Emblems by Robert Louis Stevenson: Tranquilly he'll return to dine,
And, breathing forth a pious wish,
Will cram his belly full of fish.
Poem: III
The Abbot for a walk went out,
A wealthy cleric, very stout,
And Robin has that Abbot stuck
As the red hunter spears the buck.
The djavel or the javelin
Has, you observe, gone bravely in,
And you may hear that weapon whack
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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 Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: physician, "you are certainly a stranger in this house; don't you
know what was done last night? The chaplain and all their
friends being dispersed into several parts of the palace have
prayed to God for his health, and they all heard the voice of God
saying, 'He will recover,' and so they are all certain of it."
"Never, indeed, was there a greater stock of prayers going on for
any man," as Thurlow, his secretary, writes. So sure were those
around him that Providence must hearken to and grant the
fulfilment of such desires as they thought well to express, that,
as Thomas Goodwin, one of Cromwell's chaplains, said, "We asked
not for the Protector's life, for we were assured He had too
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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 Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy: "I hope you'll succeed."
"I shall if you help me by calling and making friends
with your son. You'll have a chance then of using your eyes."
"Well, since it has come to this," said Mrs. Yeobright sadly,
"I will own to you, reddleman, that I thought of going.
I should be much happier if we were reconciled.
The marriage is unalterable, my life may be cut short,
and I should wish to die in peace. He is my only son;
and since sons are made of such stuff I am not sorry
I have no other. As for Thomasin, I never expected
much from her; and she has not disappointed me.
Return of the Native |
