| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: "I shall certainly write to Mrs. Gordon, and tell her that her favorite horse
has come to us. How pleased she will be!"
After this I was driven every day for a week or so, and as I appeared to be
quite safe, Miss Lavinia at last ventured out in the small close carriage.
After this it was quite decided to keep me and call me by my old name
of "Black Beauty".
I have now lived in this happy place a whole year. Joe is the best
and kindest of grooms. My work is easy and pleasant, and I feel
my strength and spirits all coming back again. Mr. Thoroughgood said to Joe
the other day:
"In your place he will last till he is twenty years old -- perhaps more."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Father Sergius by Leo Tolstoy: same things! And they are all satisfied and confident that it
should be so, and will go on living like that till they die. But
I can't. It bores me. I want something that would upset it all
and turn it upside down. Suppose it happened to us as to those
people--at Saratov was it?--who kept on driving and froze to
death. . . . What would our people do? How would they behave?
Basely, for certain. Each for himself. And I too should act
badly. But I at any rate have beauty. They all know it. And
how about that monk? Is it possible that he has become
indifferent to it? No! That is the one thing they all care
for--like that cadet last autumn. What a fool he was!'
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