| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: so noble a creature destroyed by misery without feeling the most
poignant grief? He is so gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated,
and when he speaks, although his words are culled with the choicest art,
yet they How with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence. He is now much
recovered from his illness and is continually on the deck, apparently
watching for the sledge that preceded his own. Yet, although unhappy,
he is not so utterly occupied by his own misery but that he interests
himself deeply in the projects of others. He has frequently conversed
with me on mine, which I have communicated to him without disguise.
He entered attentively into all my arguments in favour of my eventual
success and into every minute detail of the measures I had taken to
 Frankenstein |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: world as in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, not knowing
against whom we may chance to encounter. In truth, it is no
matter of marvel, if we sometimes jostle those, to whom, if
known, we would yield all respect. Surely, sir, I would rather
have taken you for a profane malignant than for such a devout
person as you prove, who reverences the great Master even in the
meanest of his servants."
"It is always my custom to do so, learned sir," answered
Dalgetty; "for in the service of the immortal Gustavus--but I
detain you from your meditations,"--his desire to speak of the
King of Sweden being for once overpowered by the necessity of his
|