| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs: turned loose with us inside the circle. The thing's
body was as large as that of a full-grown mastiff,
its legs were short and powerful, and its jaws broad
and strong. Dark, shaggy hair covered its back and sides,
while its breast and belly were quite white. As it slunk
toward us it presented a most formidable aspect with its
upcurled lips baring its mighty fangs.
Perry was on his knees, praying. I stooped and picked
up a small stone. At my movement the beast veered off
a bit and commenced circling us. Evidently it had been
a target for stones before. The ape-things were dancing
At the Earth's Core |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Cousin Pons by Honore de Balzac: "Let me have it in writing, and sign it, both of you. Undertake to pay
nine hundred thousand francs in cash for M. Pons' collection, and we
will see about putting you in the way of making a handsome profit."
With that he said something to La Cibot in a voice so low that the
others could not catch it, and went down after the two dealers to the
porter's room.
"Have they gone, Mme. Cibot?" asked the unhappy Pons, when she came
back again.
"Gone? . . . who?" asked she.
"Those men."
"What men? There, now, you have seen men," said she. "You have just
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from In the South Seas by Robert Louis Stevenson: traders; one begins, the others are constrained to follow; and to
him who has the most gin, and sells it the most recklessly, the
lion's share of copra is assured. It is felt by all to be an
extreme expedient, neither safe, decent, nor dignified. A trader
on Tarawa, heated by an eager rivalry, brought many cases of gin.
He told me he sat afterwards day and night in his house till it was
finished, not daring to arrest the sale, not venturing to go forth,
the bush all round him filled with howling drunkards. At night,
above all, when he was afraid to sleep, and heard shots and voices
about him in the darkness, his remorse was black.
'My God!' he reflected, 'if I was to lose my life on such a
|
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 Lamentable Tragedy of Locrine and Mucedorus by William Shakespeare: AMADINE.
Oh, spare me, Bremo, love should limit life,
Not to be made a murderer of him self.
If thou wilt glut thy loving heart with blood,
Encounter with the lion or the bear,
And like a wolf pray not upon a lamb.
BREMO.
Why then dost thou repine at me?
If thou wilt love me thou shalt be my queen:
I will crown thee with a chaplet made of Ivy,
And make the rose and lily wait on thee:
|
