| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Jane in such a part of London! My dear aunt, how could you
think of it? Mr. Darcy may perhaps have HEARD of such a
place as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a
month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were
he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs
without him."
"So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But does
not Jane correspond with his sister? SHE will not be able to
help calling."
"She will drop the acquaintance entirely."
But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth affected to place
Pride and Prejudice |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass: Ruggles sought me out, and very kindly took me
to his boarding-house at the corner of Church and
Lespenard Streets. Mr. Ruggles was then very deeply
engaged in the memorable ~Darg~ case, as well as at-
tending to a number of other fugitive slaves, devis-
ing ways and means for their successful escape; and,
though watched and hemmed in on almost every
side, he seemed to be more than a match for his
enemies.
Very soon after I went to Mr. Ruggles, he wished
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: left. These were the Iberians under Matho, the Lusitanians,
Balearians, and Gaetulians; the horses of Narr' Havas were heard to
neigh; they spread around the hill; then came the loose rabble
commanded by Autaritus--Gauls, Libyans, and Nomads; while the Eaters
of Uncleanness might be recognised among them by the fish bones which
they wore in their hair.
Thus the Barbarians, having contrived their marches with exactness,
had come together again. But themselves surprised, they remained
motionless for some minutes in consultation.
The Suffet had collected his men into an orbicular mass, in such a way
as to offer an equal resistance in every direction. The infantry were
Salammbo |
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 Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: was thin, pale, and haggard, his eyes were more sombre, and beneath them
there were heavy, dark stains of sleeplessness and care, his very voice,
when presently he spoke, seemed to have lost the musical timbre that had
earlier distinguished it; it was grown harsh and rasping. Disappointment
after disappointment, set down to ill-luck, but in reality the fruit of
incompetence, had served to sour him. The climax had been reached in
the serious desertions after the Philips Norton fight, and the flight of
Paymaster Goodenough with the funds for the campaign. The company sat
about the long oak table on which a map was spread, and Colonel Wade was
speaking when Wilding entered.
On his appearance Wade ceased, and every eye was turned upon the
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