| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde: Thou shalt don sables. Then when the time is ripe -
[GUIDO clutches his sword.]
Nay, nay, I trust thee not; your hot young blood,
Undisciplined nature, and too violent rage
Will never tarry for this great revenge,
But wreck itself on passion.
GUIDO
Thou knowest me not.
Tell me the man, and I in everything
Will do thy bidding.
MORANZONE
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy: tishly to him dressed for a ball, and knowing that
she was pretty. He dreaded the passionate
glances which fell upon her, that she not only did
not understand but rejoiced in. "Yes," thought
he, "that superstition of woman's purity! Quite
the contrary, they do not know shame--they lack
this sense " He remembered how, quite inexpli-
cably to him, she had refused two very good suit-
ors. She had become more and more fascinated
by her own success in the round of gaieties she
lived in.
The Forged Coupon |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Lady Susan by Jane Austen: of Frederica's having a reasonable dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly
inform him that he must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself for
having even, though innocently, made her unhappy on that score. She shall
have all the retribution in my power to make; if she value her own
happiness as much as I do, if she judge wisely, and command herself as she
ought, she may now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest sister, for thus
trespassing on your time, but I owe it to my own character; and after this
explanation I trust I am in no danger of sinking in your opinion." I could
have said, "Not much, indeed!" but I left her almost in silence. It was
the greatest stretch of forbearance I could practise. I could not have
stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! her deceit! but I will not allow
Lady Susan |
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 Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: for a movement of his lips, ready to do his bidding. Then all
her life seemed to rush into her eyes, and from under her veil
she gazed at him, charmed, yet fearful to attract attention. One
day he noticed her and asked, "Who is that girl?" "A slave,
Tuan! A girl that sells cakes," a dozen voices replied together.
She rose in terror to run on shore, when he called her back; and
as she stood trembling with head hung down before him, he spoke
kind words, lifting her chin with his hand and looking into her
eyes with a smile. "Do not be afraid," he said. He never spoke
to her any more. Somebody called out from the river bank; he
turned away and forgot her existence. Taminah saw Almayer
Almayer's Folly |
