| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: "The doubt of your Majesty's favour," answered the Lord
Treasurer, "may perchance occasion the difference, which does
not--as what does?--escape your Grace's eye."
"Such doubt were injurious to us, my lord," replied the Queen.
"We hold both to be near and dear to us, and will with
impartiality employ both in honourable service for the weal of
our kingdom. But we will break their further conference at
present.--My Lords of Sussex and Leicester, we have a word more
with you. 'Tressilian and Varney are near your persons--you will
see that they attend you at Kenilworth. And as we shall then
have both Paris and Menelaus within our call, so we will have the
Kenilworth |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Beauty and The Beast by Bayard Taylor: morning he said to Jonathan: "I shall not write until I feel that
I have become other than now, but I shall always be here, in you,
as you will be in me, everywhere. Whenever you want me, I shall
know it; and I think I shall know when to return."
The hearts of all the people went out towards them as they stood
together in the little village church. Both were calm, but very
pale and abstracted in their expression, yet their marvellous
likeness was still unchanged. Ruth's eyes were cast down so they
could not be seen; she trembled visibly, and her voice was scarcely
audible when she spoke the vow. It was only known in the
neighborhood that David was going to make another journey. The
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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 Virginian by Owen Wister: "That corn-fed biscuit-shooter at Rawlins yu' gave the canary--"
"Never married her. Never did marry--"
"But yu' come so near, uncle! She was the one left yu' that
letter explaining how she'd got married to a young cyard-player
the very day before her ceremony with you was due, and--"
"Oh, you're nothing; you're a kid; you don't amount to--"
"--and how she'd never, never forgot to feed the canary.
"This country's getting full of kids," stated the old man,
witheringly. "It's doomed." This crushing assertion plainly
satisfied him. And he blinked his eyes with renewed anticipation.
His tall tormentor continued with a face of unchanging gravity,
The Virginian |
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 Maria, or the Wrongs of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft: "Endeavouring to prove to me that nothing which deserved the
name of love or friendship, existed in the world, he drew such
animated pictures of his own feelings, rendered permanent by
disappointment, as imprinted the sentiments strongly on my heart,
and animated my imagination. These remarks are necessary to
elucidate some peculiarities in my character, which by the world
are indefinitely termed romantic.
"My uncle's increasing affection led him to visit me often.
Still, unable to rest in any place, he did not remain long in the
country to soften domestic tyranny; but he brought me books, for
which I had a passion, and they conspired with his conversation,
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