| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Dracula by Bram Stoker: And so, after asking where he might purchase ship forms, he departed.
"No one knew where he went `or bloomin' well cared'
as they said, for they had something else to think of,
well with blood again. For it soon became apparent to all
that the Czarina Catherine would not sail as was expected.
A thin mist began to creep up from the river, and it grew, and grew.
Till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all around her.
The captain swore polyglot, very polyglot, polyglot with bloom
and blood, but he could do nothing. The water rose and rose,
and he began to fear that he would lose the tide altogether.
He was in no friendly mood, when just at full tide, the thin
Dracula |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Pool of Blood in the Pastor's Study by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: "But you were his patron, Count."
"I was his friend. He was the confidential adviser of myself and
family."
"This would mean rich presents now and then, would it not?"
"No, that is not the case. Our venerable pastor would take nothing
for himself. He would accept no presents but gifts of money for
his poor."
"Then you do not believe this to have been a murder for the sake
of robbery?"
"No. There was nothing disturbed in any part of the house, no
drawers or cupboards broken open at all."
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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 Cratylus by Plato: this, and says, as Anaxagoras says, that justice is mind, for mind, as they
say, has absolute power, and mixes with nothing, and orders all things, and
passes through all things. At last, my friend, I find myself in far
greater perplexity about the nature of justice than I was before I began to
learn. But still I am of opinion that the name, which has led me into this
digression, was given to justice for the reasons which I have mentioned.
HERMOGENES: I think, Socrates, that you are not improvising now; you must
have heard this from some one else.
SOCRATES: And not the rest?
HERMOGENES: Hardly.
SOCRATES: Well, then, let me go on in the hope of making you believe in
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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 An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde: LADY CHILTERN. They should both represent man at his highest. I see
no difference between them.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [Stopping.] In the present case, on a matter
of practical politics, I have changed my mind. That is all.
LADY CHILTERN. All!
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [Sternly.] Yes!
LADY CHILTERN. Robert! Oh! it is horrible that I should have to ask
you such a question - Robert, are you telling me the whole truth?
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Why do you ask me such a question?
LADY CHILTERN. [After a pause.] Why do you not answer it?
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [Sitting down.] Gertrude, truth is a very
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