| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Yates Pride by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: linen--their old serving-woman was ill. They could find one for
the heavier things, but they are very particular, and I was sure
I could manage, and so I begged them to let me have the work, and
they did, and overpaid me, I fear. And I--I knew very well how
many spying eyes were about, and I thought of my proud father and
my proud mother and grandmother, and perhaps I was proud, too.
You know they talk about the Yates pride. It was not so much
because I was ashamed of doing honest work as because I did
resent those prying eyes and tattling tongues, and so I said
nothing, but I did go back and forth in broad daylight with the
linen wrapped up in the old blue and white blanket, in my old
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An Inland Voyage by Robert Louis Stevenson: place in La Fere barracks? And we, what had we?
There seemed to be no other inn in the whole town. People gave us
directions, which we followed as best we could, generally with the
effect of bringing us out again upon the scene of our disgrace. We
were very sad people indeed by the time we had gone all over La
Fere; and the CIGARETTE had already made up his mind to lie under a
poplar and sup off a loaf of bread. But right at the other end,
the house next the town-gate was full of light and bustle. 'BAZIN,
AUBERGISTE, LOGE A PIED,' was the sign. 'A LA CROIX DE MALTE.'
There were we received.
The room was full of noisy reservists drinking and smoking; and we
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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 Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy: will you? Come along." And without lingering longer she took hold
of Marty's arm and led her away.
They went between the spectral arms of the peeled trees as they
lay, and onward among the growing trees, by a path where there
were no oaks, and no barking, and no Fitzpiers--nothing but copse-
wood, between which the primroses could be discerned in pale
bunches. "I didn't know Mr. Winterborne was there," said Marty,
breaking the silence when they had nearly reached Grace's door.
"Nor was he," said Grace.
"But, Miss Melbury, I saw him."
"No," said Grace. "It was somebody else. Giles Winterborne is
The Woodlanders |
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 Herodias by Gustave Flaubert: breathing heavily; while the woman, with parted lips, gazed into the
darkness of the pit, her face drawn with an expression of fear and
hatred.
The terrible man now turned towards her. He grasped the bars of his
prison, pressed against them his bearded face, in which his eyes
glowed like burning coals, and cried:
"Ah! Is it thou, Jezebel? Thou hast captured thy lord's heart with the
tinkling of thy feet. Thou didst neigh to him like a mare. Thou didst
prepare thy bed on the mountain top, in order to accomplish thy
sacrifices!
"The Lord shall take from thee thy sparkling jewels, thy purple robes
Herodias |
