| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw: shared corridors and saloons with them whilst the stage was given
over to children in training for Boxing night. At last we had to
rehearse at an hour at which no actor or actress has been out of
bed within the memory of man; and we sardonically congratulated
one another every morning on our rosy matutinal looks and the
improvement wrought by our early rising in our health and
characters. And all this, please observe, for a society without
treasury or commercial prestige, for a play which was being
denounced in advance as unmentionable, for an author without
influence at the fashionable theatres! I victoriously challenge
the West End managers to get as much done for interested motives,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: "Monsieur," said the young Duc d'Anjou, placing his hand,
delicate and white as that of a woman, upon the arm of
Athos, "tell that brave man, I beg you, that Monsieur,
brother of the king, will to-morrow drink his health before
five hundred of the best gentlemen of France." And, on
finishing these words, the young man, perceiving that his
enthusiasm had deranged one of his ruffles, set to work to
put it to rights with the greatest care imaginable.
"Let us resume business, sire," interrupted Mazarin who
never was enthusiastic, and who wore no ruffles.
"Yes, monsieur," replied Louis XIV. "Pursue your
Ten Years Later |
