| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: on my lips. Felton, I dare not tell you at what idea I smiled;
you would hold me in horror--"
"Go on! go on!" said Felton; "you see plainly that I listen, and
that I am anxious to know the end."
"Evening came; the ordinary events took place. During the
darkness, as before, my supper was brought. Then the lamp was
lighted, and I sat down to table. I only ate some fruit. I
pretended to pour out water from the jug, but I only drank that
which I had saved in my glass. The substitution was made so
carefully that my spies, if I had any, could have no suspicion of
it.
The Three Musketeers |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Soul of a Bishop by H. G. Wells: stormy background like one of the stormy backgrounds that were
popular behind portrait Dianas in eighteenth century paintings.
Did she believe that all be had taught her, all the life he led
was--what was her phrase?--a kind of magic world, not really
real?
He groaned and turned over and repeated the words:
"A kind of magic world--not really real!"
The wind blew through the door she opened, and scattered
everything in the room. And still she held the door open.
He was astonished at himself. He started up in swift
indignation. Had he not taught the child? Had he not brought her
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells: at St. George's Hill was brought down, did they give the
artillery the ghost of a chance against them. Wherever there
was a possibility of guns being laid for them unseen, a fresh
canister of the black vapour was discharged, and where the
guns were openly displayed the Heat-Ray was brought to
bear.
By midnight the blazing trees along the slopes of Rich-
mond Park and the glare of Kingston Hill threw their light
upon a network of black smoke, blotting out the whole valley
of the Thames and extending as far as the eye could reach.
And through this two Martians slowly waded, and turned
War of the Worlds |
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 The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: me trailed a coward and found him to be Jim Girty. I knew you'd been huntin'
him for years, and so I says, 'Lew, you or me?' and you says, 'Me.'" I give in
to you, for I knew you're a better man than me, and because I wanted you to
have the satisfaction. Wal, the months have gone by, and Jim Girty's still
livin' and carryin' on. Now he's over there after them poor preachers. I ain't
sayin', Lew, that you haven't more agin him than me, but I do say, let me in
on it with you. He always has a gang of redskins with him; he's afraid to
travel alone, else you'd had him long ago. Two of us'll have more chance to
get him. Let me go with you. When it comes to a finish, I'll stand aside while
you give it to him. I'd enjoy seein' you cut him from shoulder to hip. After
he leaves the Village of Peace we'll hit his trail, camp on it, and stick to
The Spirit of the Border |
