| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Odyssey by Homer: escape, was laid upon you all too early. Better for you had you
fallen at Troy in the hey-day of your renown, for the Achaeans
would have built a mound over your ashes, and your son would
have been heir to your good name, whereas it has now been your
lot to come to a most miserable end."
"Happy son of Peleus," answered the ghost of Agamemnon, "for
having died at Troy far from Argos, while the bravest of the
Trojans and the Achaeans fell round you fighting for your body.
There you lay in the whirling clouds of dust, all huge and
hugely, heedless now of your chivalry. We fought the whole of
the livelong day, nor should we ever have left off if Jove had
The Odyssey |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic: Katy's second day's sales, though not so large as those of the
first day, were entirely satisfactory. The profits, after paying
for the "stock" and for the services of Mrs. Colvin, were nearly
a dollar, and her heart beat with renewed hope at this continued
success. Her grand idea hardly seemed like an experiment now, for
she had proved that she could make good candy, and that people
were willing to buy the article. She met with about the same
treatment from those to whom she offered her wares; one spoke
kindly, and purchased by wholesale, and another spoke gruffly,
and would not buy even a single stick. Here she was driven out of
doors, and there she was petted, and made large sales.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie: "And why am I so confident? Because I know something that puts
me in a position to propose a bargain."
"A bargain?" The bearded man took him up sharply.
"Yes--a bargain. My life and liberty against----" He paused.
"Against what?"
The group pressed forward. You could have heard a pin drop.
Slowly Tommy spoke.
"The papers that Danvers brought over from America in the
Lusitania."
The effect of his words was electrical. Every one was on his
feet. The German waved them back. He leaned over Tommy, his face
Secret Adversary |
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 Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: grounds that it would be a most undignified and awk-
ward manner of sweeping down upon the foe, even if
we could find or wield poles that would reach to the
bottom of the ocean.
Finally I suggested that we convert her into a sailing
vessel. When once the idea took hold Perry was most
enthusiastic about it, and nothing would do but a four-
masted, full-rigged ship.
Again I tried to dissuade him, but he was simply
crazy over the psychological effect which the appearance
of this strange and mighty craft would have upon the
Pellucidar |
