| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: can bending so close above her.
"I can never forgive you," she cried, "for not being the
king, for I am betrothed to him--and I love you!"
Before she could prevent him, Barney Custer had taken
her in his arms, and though at first she made a pretense of
attempting to escape, at last she lay quite still. Her arms
found their way about the man's neck, and her lips returned
the kisses that his were showering upon her upturned mouth.
Presently her glance wandered above the shoulder of the
American, and of a sudden her eyes filled with terror, and,
with a little gasp of consternation, she struggled to free her-
The Mad King |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: event to my master.
'Well, Nelly,' said he, riding into the yard one morning, too early
not to alarm me with an instant presentiment of bad news, 'it's
yours and my turn to go into mourning at present. Who's given us
the slip now, do you think?'
'Who?' I asked in a flurry.
'Why, guess!' he returned, dismounting, and slinging his bridle on
a hook by the door. 'And nip up the corner of your apron: I'm
certain you'll need it.'
'Not Mr. Heathcliff, surely?' I exclaimed.
'What! would you have tears for him?' said the doctor. 'No,
Wuthering Heights |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Pocket Diary Found in the Snow by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: streets. Muller turned up the collar of his coat and walked on
quickly. It was just striking a quarter to twelve when he reached
Cathedral Lane. As he walked slowly along the moonlit side of the
pavement, a man stepped out of the shadow to meet him. It was the
policeman who had been sent to watch the house. Like Muller, he
wore plain clothes.
"Well?" the latter asked.
"Nothing new. Mr. Fellner has been ill in bed several days, quite
seriously ill, they tell me. The janitor seems very fond of him.
"Hm - we'll see what sort of a man he is. You can go back to the
station now, you must be nearly frozen standing here."
|
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 Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: generosity, his persuasive enthusiasm, the prestige of his
father's great name, overpowered the prudent hesitation of the
ruler of Sambir. Lakamba would have nothing to do himself with
any illegal traffic. He also objected to the Arabs being made
use of in that matter; but he suggested Almayer, saying that he
was a weak man easily persuaded, and that his friend, the English
captain of the steamer, could be made very useful--very likely
even would join in the business, smuggling the powder in the
steamer without Abdulla's knowledge. There again Dain met in
Almayer with unexpected resistance; Lakamba had to send
Babalatchi over with the solemn promise that his eyes would be
Almayer's Folly |
