| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass: d----d b---h, I'll learn you how to disobey my
orders!" and after rolling up his sleeves, he com-
menced to lay on the heavy cowskin, and soon the
warm, red blood (amid heart-rending shrieks from
her, and horrid oaths from him) came dripping to
the floor. I was so terrified and horror-stricken at the
sight, that I hid myself in a closet, and dared not
venture out till long after the bloody transaction was
over. I expected it would be my turn next. It was
all new to me. I had never seen any thing like it
before. I had always lived with my grandmother on
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Prufrock/Other Observations by T. S. Eliot: Another bank defaulter has confessed.
I keep my countenance,
I remain self-possessed
Except when a street piano, mechanical and tired
Reiterates some worn-out common song
With the smell of hyacinths across the garden
Recalling things that other people have desired.
Are these ideas right or wrong?
III
The October night comes down; returning as before
Except for a slight sensation of being ill at ease
Prufrock/Other Observations |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Stories From the Old Attic by Robert Harris: On another day a young maiden fleeing evil men ran across the rocks
until she reached the wall where she could go no farther. She cried
out and pounded her fists against the wall in despair until the men
caught up with her and carried her away. The bridge then said to
the wall in disgust, "You once accused me of having no discretion,
but you are worse, for you are completely heartless. You're so cold
and rigid that you cruelly prevent even the distressed and needy
from passing by. Maybe that's why walls are known everywhere as
symbols of 'No!' while we bridges are known as symbols of 'Yes!'"
"You, my loose and easy friend," said the wall, "indeed let the
distressed pass, but you also let the criminals pass. I, on the
|
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 Camille by Alexandre Dumas: without shame, without remorse, Why, one sees it every day. How
do you suppose the kept women in Paris could live in the style
they do, if they had not three or four lovers at once? No single
fortune, however large, could suffice for the expenses of a woman
like Marguerite. A fortune of five hundred thousand francs a year
is, in France, an enormous fortune; well, my dear friend, five
hundred thousand francs a year would still be too little, and for
this reason: a man with such an income has a large house, horses,
servants, carriages; he shoots, has friends, often he is married,
he has children, he races, gambles, travels, and what not. All
these habits are so much a part of his position that he can not
Camille |
