| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Out of Time's Abyss by Edgar Rice Burroughs: He heard her gasp of astonishment when she realized the ingenuity
and boldness of his plan; then he directed her to adjust the other
pair of wings and the robe upon him. Working with strong, deft
fingers she soon had the work completed, and the two stepped out
upon the roof, to all intent and purpose genuine Wieroos. Besides his
pistol Bradley carried the sword of the slain Wieroo prophet, while
the girl was armed with the small blade of the red Wieroo.
Side by side they walked slowly across the roofs toward the north
edge of the city. Wieroos flapped above them and several times
they passed others walking or sitting upon the roofs. From the
temple still rose the sounds of commotion, now pierced by
Out of Time's Abyss |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Melmoth Reconciled by Honore de Balzac: his face. The hard eyes were softened by tears; the resonant voice
that struck terror into those who heard it took the tender and
compassionate tones of those who themselves have passed through deep
humiliation. He so edified those who heard his words, that some who
had felt drawn to see the spectacle of a Christian's death fell on
their knees as he spoke of heavenly things, and of the infinite glory
of God, and gave thanks and praise to Him. If he is leaving no worldly
wealth to his family, no family can possess a greater blessing than
this that he surely gained for them, a soul among the blessed, who
will watch over you all and direct you in the path to heaven."
These words made such a vivid impression upon Castanier that he
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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 Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells: and Montgomery had trained it to prepare food, and indeed to
discharge all the trivial domestic offices that were required.
It was a complex trophy of Moreau's horrible skill,--a bear, tainted with
dog and ox, and one of the most elaborately made of all his creatures.
It treated Montgomery with a strange tenderness and devotion.
Sometimes he would notice it, pat it, call it half-mocking, half-jocular
names, and so make it caper with extraordinary delight; sometimes he
would ill-treat it, especially after he had been at the whiskey,
kicking it, beating it, pelting it with stones or lighted fusees.
But whether he treated it well or ill, it loved nothing so much as to be
near him.
The Island of Doctor Moreau |
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 Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: mercy, giveth faith, preacheth peace; who is called and is
himself the very truth, the very love, the very goodness. Him
were it not better to worship than thy gods of many evil
passions, of shameful names and shameful lives? Woe unto you
that are more stony-hearted than the stones, and more senseless
than the senseless, sons of perdition, inheritors of darkness!
But blessed am I, and all Christian folk, having a good God and a
lover of mankind! They that serve him, though, for a season in
this life they endure evil, yet shall they reap the immortal
harvest of recompense in the kingdom of unending and divine
felicity."
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