| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from In the Cage by Henry James: "Spoken of you?"
"Of my being there--of my knowing, and that sort of thing."
"Oh never to a human creature!" he eagerly declared.
She had a small drop at this, which was expressed in another pause,
and she then returned to what he had just asked her. "Oh yes, I
quite believe you like it--my always being there and our taking
things up so familiarly and successfully: if not exactly where we
left them," she laughed, "almost always at least at an interesting
point!" He was about to say something in reply to this, but her
friendly gaiety was quicker. "You want a great many things in
life, a great many comforts and helps and luxuries--you want
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Plain Tales from the Hills by Rudyard Kipling: . . . . . . . . .
When the trouble was over, and his few acquaintances were pitying
him for the bad attack of jungle-fever that had so pulled him down,
Moriarty swore a big oath to himself and went abroad again with Mrs.
Reiver till the end of the season, adoring her in a quiet and
deferential way as an angel from heaven. Later on he took to
riding--not hacking, but honest riding--which was good proof that he
was improving, and you could slam doors behind him without his
jumping to his feet with a gasp. That, again, was hopeful.
How he kept his oath, and what it cost him in the beginning, nobody
knows. He certainly managed to compass the hardest thing that a man
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells: a vague outline of a hunched-up figure. Then I noticed
the opening of the place was darkened by two more black heads.
My hand tightened on my stick.
The thing in the dark repeated in a louder tone, "Say the words."
I had missed its last remark. "Not to go on all-fours; that is the Law,"
it repeated in a kind of sing-song.
I was puzzled.
"Say the words," said the Ape-man, repeating, and the figures
in the doorway echoed this, with a threat in the tone of their voices.
I realised that I had to repeat this idiotic formula; and then
began the insanest ceremony. The voice in the dark began intoning
The Island of Doctor Moreau |
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 Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: by the Lady Maud.
De Vac dropped the key and, still grasping the now
thoroughly affrightened Prince with his left hand, drew
his sword and confronted the officer.
There were no words, there was no need of words;
De Vac's intentions were too plain to necessitate any
parley, so the two fell upon each other with grim fury;
the brave officer facing the best swordsman that France
had ever produced in a futile attempt to rescue his
young prince.
In a moment De Vac had disarmed him, but, con-
The Outlaw of Torn |
