| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Rezanov by Gertrude Atherton: western America, he did not think it probable that
the little cluster of states, barely able to walk alone,
would indulge in dreams of expansion for many
years to come. He had heard of the projected ex-
pedition of Lewis and Clarke to the mouth of the
Columbia, but--perhaps he was too Russian--he
did not take any adventure seriously that had not
a mighty nation at its back. And as it was almost
the half of a century from that night before the
American flag flew over the Custom House of Mon-
terey, there is reason to believe that Russian aggres-
Rezanov |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy: you, and tend upon you as I used to do? I do not mind your
being poor. I would have agreed to come this morning, but
you did not ask me."
"May you come to me?" he cried bitterly. "Elizabeth, don't
mock me! If you only would come!"
"I will," said she.
"How will you forgive all my roughness in former days? You
cannot!"
"I have forgotten it. Talk of that no more."
Thus she assured him, and arranged their plans for reunion;
and at length each went home. Then Henchard shaved for the
The Mayor of Casterbridge |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: after that, without your being a bit better off."
"It was a cowardly cruel thing," said one of the sisters, looking
round, "to harry a puir family to the bare wa's this gate."
"And leave us neither stirk nor stot," said the youngest brother,
who now entered, "nor sheep nor lamb, nor aught that eats grass
and corn."
"If they had ony quarrel wi' us," said Harry, the second brother,
"were we na ready to have fought it out? And that we should have
been a' frae hame, too,--ane and a' upon the hill--Odd, an we had
been at hame, Will Graeme's stamach shouldna hae wanted its
morning; but it's biding him, is it na, Hobbie?"
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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 Heroes by Charles Kingsley: the fifty sons of Pallas? And this Minotaur shall go the
road which they have gone, and Minos himself, if he dare stay
me.'
'But how will you slay him, my son? For you must leave your
club and your armour behind, and be cast to the monster,
defenceless and naked like the rest.'
And Theseus said, 'Are there no stones in that labyrinth; and
have I not fists and teeth? Did I need my club to kill
Kerkuon, the terror of all mortal men?'
Then AEgeus clung to his knees; but he would not hear; and at
last he let him go, weeping bitterly, and said only this one
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