| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: from too constant a solicitude for the newer business
developments--this was in what I may call the later Moggs period
of our enterprises--and I went to work at once with grim
intensity.
But I will tell of my soaring and flying machines in the proper
place. I've been leaving the story of my uncle altogether too
long. I wanted merely to tell how it was I took to this work. I
took to these experiments after I had sought something that
Marion in some indefinable way had seemed to promise. I toiled
and forgot myself for a time, and did many things. Science too
has been something of an irresponsive mistress since, though I've
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Sons of the Soil by Honore de Balzac: on the countess's face.
"Nothing," she replied.
Women are always hiding some important thought when they say,
hypocritically, "It is nothing."
"A woman may be the victim of ideas which would seem very flimsy to
you," she added, "but which, to us, are terrible. As for me, I envy
Olympe's lot."
"God hears you," said the abbe, smiling as though to soften the
sternness of his remark.
Madame de Montcornet grew seriously uneasy when she noticed an
expression of fear and anxiety in Olympe's face and attitude. By the
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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 Othello by William Shakespeare: Hath tane your part, to haue so much to do
To bring him in? Trust me, I could do much
Oth. Prythee no more: Let him come when he will:
I will deny thee nothing
Des. Why, this is not a Boone:
'Tis as I should entreate you weare your Gloues,
Or feede on nourishing dishes, or keepe you warme,
Or sue to you, to do a peculiar profit
To your owne person. Nay, when I haue a suite
Wherein I meane to touch your Loue indeed,
It shall be full of poize, and difficult waight,
Othello |
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 Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs: and Smith-Oldwick the growling gutturals falling from human
lips sounded uncanny in the extreme, but whether Numa
understood them or not they appeared to have the desired
effect upon him, as he ceased growling, and as Tarzan walked
to Smith-Oldwick's side Numa accompanied him, nor did he
offer to molest the officer.
"What did you say to him?" asked the girl.
Tarzan smiled. "I told him," he replied, "that I am Tarzan
of the Apes, mighty hunter, killer of beasts, lord of the jungle,
and that you are my friends. I have never been sure that all of
the other beasts understand the language of the Mangani. I
Tarzan the Untamed |
