| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs: then she went very white and rose from her seat. "I do," she
replied, and turning her back upon me, she walked quickly toward
her room. I started to follow, for even believing what I did, I
was sorry that I had hurt her. I reached the door to the crew's
room just behind her and in time to see von Schoenvorts lean
forward and whisper something to her as she passed; but she must
have guessed that she might be watched, for she passed on.
That afternoon it clouded over; the wind mounted to a gale, and
the sea rose until the craft was wallowing and rolling frightfully.
Nearly everyone aboard was sick; the air became foul and oppressive.
For twenty-four hours I did not leave my post in the conning tower,
The Land that Time Forgot |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: trial did believe him guilty; but that he was a poor distracted
wretch, weary of his life, and chose to part with it in this way.
Certain it is that upon the strictest examination that could be
afterwards made by the king's command, and then by the diligence
of the House, that upon the jealousy and rumour made a committee,
that was very diligent and solicitous to make that discovery,
there was never any probable evidence (that poor creature's only
excepted) that there was any other cause of that woful fire than
the displeasure of God Almighty: the first accident of the
beginning in a baker's house, where there was so great a stock of
faggots, and the neighbourhood of such combustible matter, of
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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 Breaking Point by Mary Roberts Rinehart: leaning on it with both hands, and staring? Not at all. Listen to
this:
Q. "You recognize this revolver as the one you found?"
A. "Yes."
. "You are familiar with it?"
A. "Yes. It is Mr. Clark's."
Q. "You made the second search because you had not examined the
woodbox earlier?"
A. "No. I had examined the woodbox. I had a theory that - "
Q. "The Jury cannot listen to any theories. This is an inquiry
The Breaking Point |
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 Divine Comedy (translated by H.F. Cary) by Dante Alighieri: In breathless awe, and hopes some time to tell
Of all its goodly state: e'en so mine eyes
Cours'd up and down along the living light,
Now low, and now aloft, and now around,
Visiting every step. Looks I beheld,
Where charity in soft persuasion sat,
Smiles from within and radiance from above,
And in each gesture grace and honour high.
So rov'd my ken, and its general form
All Paradise survey'd: when round I turn'd
With purpose of my lady to inquire
The Divine Comedy (translated by H.F. Cary) |
