| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Jungle Tales of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Tarzan's fingers closed upon a near-by branch.
Beneath, Numa leaped; but Gunto, heavy and awkward as he
may have appeared, was as quick as Manu, the monkey,
so that the lion's talons but barely grazed him,
scratching a bloody streak beneath one hairy arm.
Tarzan carried Mamka's corpse to a high crotch, where even
Sheeta, the panther, could not get it. Numa paced angrily
back and forth beneath the tree, roaring frightfully.
He had been robbed of his kill and his revenge also.
He was very savage indeed; but his despoilers were
well out of his reach, and after hurling a few taunts
The Jungle Tales of Tarzan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: the Wizard placed the hickory-nut beside the fountain and said in a
solemn voice:
"I want you to resume your natural form, and to be very
thirsty--Pyrzqxgl!"
In an instant there appeared, in the place of the hickory-nut, the
form of Kiki Aru, the Hyup boy. He seemed bewildered, at first, as if
trying to remember what had happened to him and why he was in this
strange place. But he was facing the fountain, and the bubbling water
reminded him that he was thirsty. Without noticing Ozma, the Wizard
and Dorothy, who were behind him, he picked up the cup, filled it with
the Water of Oblivion, and drank it to the last drop.
The Magic of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: a foot of the warrior, doubtless rousing him from his
slumber. To retreat now would be impossible. Yet to
cross through that roomful of sleeping warriors seemed
almost equally beyond the pale of possibility.
Carthoris shrugged his broad shoulders and chose the
lesser evil. Warily he entered the room. At his right,
against the wall, leaned several swords and rifles and
spears--extra weapons which the warriors had stacked
here ready to their hands should there be a night alarm
calling them suddenly from slumber. Beside each sleeper
lay his weapon--these were never far from their owners
Thuvia, Maid of Mars |
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 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle: of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?"
"Many times; but what was a fine to me?"
"It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are
to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone."
"I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take."
"In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps
may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out.
I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very moch indebted to you for
having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your
results."
"I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes |
