| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Fantastic Fables by Ambrose Bierce: with fair promises, kill him and enthrone. The skeleton of even
the most lawless despot makes a good constitutional sovereign."
At this the Deputation was greatly abashed. "It is impossible,"
they said, moving away; "our king has no skeleton; he was stuffed."
Uncalculating Zeal
A MAN-EATING tiger was ravaging the Kingdom of Damnasia, and the
King, greatly concerned for the lives and limbs of his Royal
subjects, promised his daughter Zodroulra to any man who would kill
the animal. After some days Camaraladdin appeared before the King
and claimed the reward.
"But where is the tiger?" the King asked.
Fantastic Fables |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Christ in Flanders by Honore de Balzac: despair, I should have found it almost impossible to give it, so
languid had grown the soul that was melted within me. The west wind
had slackened the springs of my intelligence. A cold gray light poured
down from the heavens, and the murky clouds that passed overhead gave
a boding look to the land; all these things, together with the
immensity of the sea, said to me, "Die to-day or die to-morrow, still
must we not die?" And then--I wandered on, musing on the doubtful
future, on my blighted hopes. Gnawed by these gloomy thoughts, I
turned mechanically into the convent church, with the gray towers that
loomed like ghosts though the sea mists. I looked round with no
kindling of the imagination at the forest of columns, at the slender
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: "I will compel you to do so."
"Unfortunately, father, there no longer exists a Sainte
Marguerite to which courtesans can be sent, and, even if there
were, I would follow Mlle. Gautier if you succeeded in having her
sent there. What would you have? Perhaps am in the wrong, but I
can only be happy as long as I am the lover of this woman."
"Come, Armand, open your eyes. Recognise that it is your father
who speaks to you, your father who has always loved you, and who
only desires your happiness. Is it honourable for you to live
like husband and wife with a woman whom everybody has had?"
"What does it matter, father, if no one will any more? What does
Camille |
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 Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln: your abominable insinuations. Miss McIntyre shall not be insulted."
"I'm not insulting her," gasped Ferguson, half strangled. "Let go,
Mr. Kent. I'm only telling you what that half crazy partner of
yours, Rochester, was probably thinking in the police court. Let
go, I say."
Clymer aided the detective in freeing himself. "Sit down, Kent,"
he said sternly. "Ferguson meant no offense. Go ahead, man, and
tell us the rest of your theories."
It was some minutes, however, before the detective had collected
sufficient breath to answer intelligently.
"I size it up this way," he began with a resentful glance at Kent
The Red Seal |
