| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: and Little John could shoot two English miles and an inch point-blank,
Come scrive Turpino, che non erra.
The machine was completed, and the ensuing morning fixed for the assault.
Six men, relieved at intervals, kept watch over it during the night.
Prince John retired to sleep, congratulating himself in the expectation
that another day would place the fair culprit at his princely mercy.
His anticipations mingled with the visions of his slumber, and he dreamed
of wounds and drums, and sacking and firing the castle, and bearing off
in his arms the beautiful prize through the midst of fire and smoke.
In the height of this imaginary turmoil, he awoke, and conceived for a few
moments that certain sounds which rang in his ears, were the continuation
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Lily of the Valley by Honore de Balzac: my fall you would understand the fatal--"
"Yes, fatal!" she cried. "I believed in you too much. I believed you
capable of the virtue a priest practises. All is over," she continued,
after a pause. "I owe you much, my friend; you have extinguished in me
the fires of earthly life. The worst of the way is over; age is coming
on. I am ailing now, soon I may be ill; I can never be the brilliant
fairy who showers you with favors. Be faithful to Lady Dudley.
Madeleine, whom I was training to be yours, ah! who will have her now?
Poor Madeleine, poor Madeleine!" she repeated, like the mournful
burden of a song. "I would you had heard her say to me when you came:
'Mother, you are not kind to Felix!' Dear creature!"
The Lily of the Valley |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from King James Bible: PSA 90:5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep:
in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
PSA 90:6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening
it is cut down, and withereth.
PSA 90:7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we
troubled.
PSA 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in
the light of thy countenance.
PSA 90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our
years as a tale that is told.
PSA 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by
King James Bible |
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 The Vision Splendid by William MacLeod Raine: last dollar I'm a-going to do it."
His prisoner turned from the rail against which he was leaning to
the captain. Pinpoints of light were gleaming in the big eyes.
"How much safer do you want me than this?"
Green expectorated at a chip in the water and shifted his quid.
"You've got brains, son. No telling what you might try to do. But
see here. You're no drunken beachcomber. I know a gentleman when I
see one. Gimme your word you'll not try to skip out or send a
message back to the States and I'll go easy on you. I'm so dashed
kindhearted, I am, that--"
Jeff leaped to the rail, stood poised an instant, and dived into
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