| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne: The water hissed as it evaporated by contact with the boiling lava. The
vapor whirled in the air to an immeasurable height, as if the valves of an
immense boiler had been suddenly opened. But, however considerable might be
the volume of water contained in the lake, it must eventually be absorbed,
because it was not replenished, while the stream of lava, fed from an
inexhaustible source, rolled on without ceasing new waves of incandescent
matter.
The first waves of lava which fell in the lake immediately solidified and
accumulated so as speedily to emerge from it. Upon their surface fell other
waves, which in their turn became stone, but a step nearer the center of
the lake. In this manner was formed a pier which threatened to gradually
 The Mysterious Island |
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 A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay: scant pity for anyone - Oh, it has been a bloody journey!"
She laid her hand on his arm. "I, for one, would not have it less
rugged."
"Nothing good can be said of my crimes."
"To me you seem like a lonely giant, searching for you know not
what.... The grandest that life holds.... You at least have no cause
to look up to women."
"Thanks, Sullenbode!" he responded, with a troubled smile.
"When Maskull passes, let people watch. Everyone is thrown out of
your road. You go on, looking neither to right nor left."
"Take care that you are not thrown as well," said Corpang gravely.
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