| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis: signed that pledge, he won't never sign it."
So they fixed it up that Brother Cartwright was
to write out a pledge on the inside leaf of the Bible,
and tie the Bible onto a string, and a lead pencil
onto another string, and let the strings down to
Hank, and he was to make his mark, fur he couldn't
write, and they was to be pulled up agin. Hank,
he says all right, and they done it. But jest as
Hank was making his mark on the leaf of the book,
that preacher done what I has always thought was
a mean trick. He was lying on the floor with his
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Herbert West: Reanimator by H. P. Lovecraft: but rather as a natural result of the enlistment of the man whose
indispensable assistant I was -- the celebrated Boston surgical
specialist, Dr. Herbert West. Dr. West had been avid for a chance
to serve as surgeon in a great war, and when the chance had come,
he carried me with him almost against my will. There were reasons
why I could have been glad to let the war separate us; reasons
why I found the practice of medicine and the companionship of
West more and more irritating; but when he had gone to Ottawa
and through a colleague’s influence secured a medical commission
as Major, I could not resist the imperious persuasion of one determined
that I should accompany him in my usual capacity.
Herbert West: Reanimator |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Essays of Francis Bacon by Francis Bacon: spurs. There is also great use of ambitious men, in
being screens to princes in matters of danger and
envy; for no man will take that part, except he be
like a seeled dove, that mounts and mounts, be-
cause he cannot see about him. There is use also of
ambitious men, in pulling down the greatness of
any subject that overtops; as Tiberius used Marco,
in the pulling down of Sejanus. Since, therefore,
they must be used in such cases, there resteth to
speak, how they are to be bridled, that they may be
less dangerous. There is less danger of them, if they
Essays of Francis Bacon |
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 Heroes by Charles Kingsley: but I must remember what is right, for songs cannot alter
justice; and I must be faithful to my name. Alcinous I am
called, the man of sturdy sense; and Alcinous I will be.'
But for all that Arete besought him, until she won him round.
So next morning he sent a herald, and called the kings into
the square, and said, 'This is a puzzling matter: remember
but one thing. These Minuai live close by us, and we may
meet them often on the seas; but Aietes lives afar off, and
we have only heard his name. Which, then, of the two is it
safer to offend - the men near us, or the men far off?'
The princes laughed, and praised his wisdom; and Alcinous
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