| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: His eminence was, however, anxious to see her married, and
accordingly sought amongst the nobility of France a husband
suitable to her merits and equal to her condition, she being not
only a beautiful woman but, through his bounty, the richest
heiress in Christendom. It happened the cardinal's choice
settled upon one who had fallen in love with Hortensia, and who
had declared, with amorous enthusiasm, that if he had but the
happiness of being married to her, it would not grieve him to die
three months afterwards.
The young noble was Armand Charles de la Porte, Duke de
Meilleraye, who had the sole recommendation of being one of the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw: annoyances much more trying to the dramatic temperament than mere
difficulties.
The acting, too, required courage and character as well as skill
and intelligence. The veto of the Censor introduced quite a
novel element of moral responsibility into the undertaking. And
the characters were very unusual on the English stage. The
younger heroine is, like her mother, an Englishwoman to the
backbone, and not, like the heroines of our fashionable drama, a
prima donna of Italian origin. Consequently she was sure to be
denounced as unnatural and undramatic by the critics. The most
vicious man in the play is not in the least a stage villain;
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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 Underdogs by Mariano Azuela: got to reach home first, see? So I'll help you a little,
sonny!"
He drew his sword out and struck the prisoner several
times.
"Let's have a look at your rope, Pancracio," he said.
There was a strange gleam in his eyes. Quail observed
that the prisoner no longer moved arm or leg. Blondie
burst into a loud guffaw: "The Goddamned fool. Just as
I was learning him to do without food, too!"
"Well, mate, we're almost to Guadalajara," Venancio
said, glancing over the smiling row of houses in Tepatit-
The Underdogs |
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 Essays of Francis Bacon by Francis Bacon: taken; and private suits do putrefy the pub-
lic good. Many good matters, are undertaken with
bad minds; I mean not only corrupt minds, but
crafty minds, that intend not performance. Some
embrace suits, which never mean to deal effectu-
ally in them; but if they see there may be life in
the matter, by some other mean, they will be con-
tent to win a thank, or take a second reward, or at
least to make use, in the meantime, of the suitor's
hopes. Some take hold of suits, only for an occa-
sion to cross some other; or to make an informa-
Essays of Francis Bacon |
