| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The United States Bill of Rights: nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have
been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature
and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him;
to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor,
and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
VII
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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 Shadow Line by Joseph Conrad: dared not open my lips for fear of betraying myself
by some insane shriek. Luckily I had only orders
to give, and an order has a steadying influence upon
him who has to give it. Moreover, the seaman,
the officer of the watch, in me was sufficiently sane.
I was like a mad carpenter making a box.
Were he ever so convinced that he was King of
Jerusalem, the box he would make would be a sane
box. What I feared was a shrill note escaping me
involuntarily and upsetting my balance. Luckily,
again, there was no necessity to raise one's voice.
 The Shadow Line |