| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Can you not guess, man? The guilt of Dusar might be for ever
buried with her bones," he concluded in a low, savage whisper.
Astok, Prince of Dusar, shuddered.
Weak he was; yes, and wicked, too; but the suggestion
that his father's words implied turned him cold with horror.
Cruel to their enemies are the men of Mars; but the
word "enemies" is commonly interpreted to mean men only.
Assassination runs riot in the great Barsoomian cities;
yet to murder a woman is a crime so unthinkable that
even the most hardened of the paid assassins would shrink
from you in horror should you suggest such a thing to him.
Thuvia, Maid of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: He shook his head.
"Take it," I urged him, whispering desperately. "No one can tell
what - "
He smiled and slapped meaningly the only pocket of the sleeping-
jacket. It was not safe, certainly. But I produced a large old
silk handkerchief of mine, and tying the three pieces of gold in a
corner, pressed it on him. He was touched, I suppose, because he
took it at last and tied it quickly round his waist under the
jacket, on his bare skin.
Our eyes met; several seconds elapsed, till, our glances still
mingled, I extended my hand and turned the lamp out. Then I passed
'Twixt Land & Sea |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rescue by Joseph Conrad: characteristic shape of a man in a small canoe.
"O! Ya! Man!" he hailed. "What do you want?" Other eyes, too, had
detected that shadow. Low murmurs arose on the deck of the Emma.
"If you don't speak at once I shall fire," shouted Jorgenson,
fiercely.
"No, white man," returned the floating shape in a solemn drawl.
"I am the bearer of friendly words. A chief's words. I come from
Tengga."
"There was a bullet that came on board not a long time ago--also
from Tengga," said Jorgenson.
"That was an accident," protested the voice from the lagoon.
The Rescue |
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 War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: Sonya among a minority of women who crowded near the wall, not
having been invited to dance. She stood with her slender arms
hanging down, her scarcely defined bosom rising and falling regularly,
and with bated breath and glittering, frightened eyes gazed straight
before her, evidently prepared for the height of joy or misery. She
was not concerned about the Emperor or any of those great people
whom Peronskaya was pointing out- she had but one thought: "Is it
possible no one will ask me, that I shall not be among the first to
dance? Is it possible that not one of all these men will notice me?
They do not even seem to see me, or if they do they look as if they
were saying, 'Ah, she's not the one I'm after, so it's not worth
War and Peace |
