| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from De Profundis by Oscar Wilde: any possible bitterness of feeling against the world.
I am completely penniless, and absolutely homeless. Yet there are
worse things in the world than that. I am quite candid when I say
that rather than go out from this prison with bitterness in my
heart against the world, I would gladly and readily beg my bread
from door to door. If I got nothing from the house of the rich I
would get something at the house of the poor. Those who have much
are often greedy; those who have little always share. I would not
a bit mind sleeping in the cool grass in summer, and when winter
came on sheltering myself by the warm close-thatched rick, or under
the penthouse of a great barn, provided I had love in my heart.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Voice of the City by O. Henry: "crooks." On Wall Street the speculators never
use the file blades of their knives.
Vuyning was delighted when one of this company
stepped forth and addressed him as he was passing.
He was hungry for something out of the ordinary,
and to be accosted by this smooth-faced, keen-eyed,
low-voiced, athletic member of the under world, with
his grim, yet pleasant smile, had all the taste of an
adventure to the convention-weary Vuyning.
"Excuse me, friend," said be. "Could I have a
few minutes' talk with you -- on the level?"
The Voice of the City |
