| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Figure in the Carpet by Henry James: me feel how much his nerves were exposed. I was unsatisfied - I
kept hold of his hand. "I won't make use of the expression then,"
I said, "in the article in which I shall eventually announce my
discovery, though I dare say I shall have hard work to do without
it. But meanwhile, just to hasten that difficult birth, can't you
give a fellow a clue?" I felt much more at my ease.
"My whole lucid effort gives him the clue - every page and line and
letter. The thing's as concrete there as a bird in a cage, a bait
on a hook, a piece of cheese in a mouse-trap. It's stuck into
every volume as your foot is stuck into your shoe. It governs
every line, it chooses every word, it dots every i, it places every
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte: happiness while there - enjoying a brief space of rest and liberty
in that dear, familiar place, among the loving and the loved - and
my sorrow on being obliged to bid them, once more, a long adieu.
I returned, however, with unabated vigour to my work - a more
arduous task than anyone can imagine, who has not felt something
like the misery of being charged with the care and direction of a
set of mischievous, turbulent rebels, whom his utmost exertions
cannot bind to their duty; while, at the same time, he is
responsible for their conduct to a higher power, who exacts from
him what cannot be achieved without the aid of the superior's more
potent authority; which, either from indolence, or the fear of
Agnes Grey |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rig Veda: with
thy light between them.
3 Making thee grow as 'twere some noble infant, thy Mother
nurtures
thee with sweet affection.
Over the desert slopes thou passest longing, and seekest, like
some
beast set free, thy fodder.
4 Foolish are we, O Wise and free from error: verily, Agni,
thou dost
know thy grandeur.
The Rig Veda |
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 Tales of Unrest by Joseph Conrad: were all brothers, and also immortal. The death of the artist, who was
the first white man whom he knew intimately, did not disturb this
belief, because he was firmly convinced that the white stranger had
pretended to die and got himself buried for some mysterious purpose of
his own, into which it was useless to inquire. Perhaps it was his way
of going home to his own country? At any rate, these were his
brothers, and he transferred his absurd affection to them. They
returned it in a way. Carlier slapped him on the back, and recklessly
struck off matches for his amusement. Kayerts was always ready to let
him have a sniff at the ammonia bottle. In short, they behaved just
like that other white creature that had hidden itself in a hole in the
Tales of Unrest |
