| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: And caterpillars eat my leaves away;
But I will remedy this gear ere long
Or sell my title for a glorious grave.
[Enter GLOSTER.]
GLOSTER.
All happiness unto my lord the king!
Pardon, my liege, that I have staid so long.
SUFFOLK.
Nay, Gloster, know that thou art come too soon,
Unless thou wert more loyal than thou art.
I do arrest thee of high treason here.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Flame and Shadow by Sara Teasdale: A Boy
Out of the noise of tired people working,
Harried with thoughts of war and lists of dead,
His beauty met me like a fresh wind blowing,
Clean boyish beauty and high-held head.
Eyes that told secrets, lips that would not tell them,
Fearless and shy the young unwearied eyes --
Men die by millions now, because God blunders,
Yet to have made this boy he must be wise.
Winter Dusk
I watch the great clear twilight
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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 End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: run cold. What made you come here? What made you
come aboard that evening all of a sudden, with your
high talk and your money--tempting me? I always
wondered what was your motive? You fastened yourself
on me to have easy times and grow fat on my life blood,
I tell you. Was that it? I believe you are the greatest
miser in the world, or else why . . ."
"No. I am only poor," interrupted Captain Whalley,
stonily.
"Steady," murmured the Serang. Massy turned away
with his chin on his shoulder.
End of the Tether |
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 The Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic: of a distant convent, referring with cold formality
to the studies and discipline by which Miss Madden
might profit more if she had been better brought up,
and enclosing a large bill. Then all at once they beheld
a big Celia, whom they spoke of as being home again,
but who really seemed never to have been there before--
a tall, handsome, confident young woman, swift of tongue
and apprehension, appearing to know everything there was
to be known by the most learned, able to paint pictures,
carve wood, speak in divers languages, and make music for
the gods, yet with it all a very proud lady, one might say
The Damnation of Theron Ware |
