| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: and so of all others; shall for every such offence forfeit a mark,
to be paid to the friar.
"And these articles we swear to keep as we are good men and true.
Carried by acclamation. God save King Richard. "LITTLE JOHN, Secretary."
"Excellent laws," said the baron: "excellent, by the holy rood.
William of Normandy, with my great great grandfather Fierabras
at his elbow, could not have made better. And now, sweet Mawd----"
"A fine, a fine," cried the friar, "a fine, by the article of courtesy."
"Od's life," said the baron, "shall I not call my own
daughter Mawd? Methinks there should be a special exception
in my favour."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Human Drift by Jack London: loudly, and I haven't a--a tapeworm.
FITZSIMMONS. [Grinning and pulling out card from vest pocket.]
I knew you were Miss Sylvester all the time.
MAUD. Oh! You brute! I'll never speak to you again.
FITZSIMMONS. [Gently.] You'll let me see you safely out of here.
MAUD. [Relenting.] Ye-e-s. [She rises, crosses to table, and is
about to stoop for motor cloak and bonnet, but he forestall her,
holds cloak and helps her into it.] Thank you. [She takes off
wig, fluffs her own hair becomingly, and puts on bonnet, looking
every inch a pretty young girl, ready for an automobile ride.]
FITZSIMMONS. [Who, all the time, watching her transformation, has
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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 Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: about, is the worst enemy of good order; one must stand up and
look sharp, and not stir a hair! There's no time for whimpering
and busying oneself with trifles. When you have to deal with
elemental forces you must put out force against them, be firm and
as unyielding as a stone. Isn't that right, grandfather?" He
turned to Ivan Ivanitch and laughed. "I am no better than a woman
myself; I am a limp rag, a flabby creature, so I hate flabbiness.
I can't endure petty feelings! One mopes, another is frightened,
a third will come straight in here and say: 'Fie on you! Here
you've guzzled a dozen courses and you talk about the starving!'
That's petty and stupid! A fourth will reproach you, Eccellenza,
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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 Under the Andes by Rex Stout: not food for the intellect; and, besides, I was forced by
circumstances into an heroic attitude--and nothing is more
distasteful to a man of sense. But I had a task before me; if a
man lays bricks he should lay them well; and I do not deny that
there was a stirring of my pulse as I sat down.
Is it possible for a mind to directly influence the movements
of a little ivory ball? I do not say yes, but will you say no?
I
watched the ball with the eye of an eagle, but without straining;
I played with the precision of a man with an unerring system,
though my selections were really made quite at random; and I
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