| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: to hear you say that you are convinced - at least in part," and he waved
his hand towards the window. It was almost as if he pleaded for
encouragement. In common with most men who came in contact with Wilding,
he had felt the latent force of this man's nature, the strength that was
hidden under that calm surface, and the acuteness of the judgment that
must be wedded to it. He longed t have the word of such a man that his
enterprise was not as desperate as Wilding had seemed at first to paint
it. But Wilding made no concession to hopes or desires when he dealt
with facts.
"Men will flock to you, no doubt; persecution has wearied many of the
country-folk, and they are ready for revolt. But they are all untrained
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: Wetzel, whose fame has reached as far as my home, way down in Virginia."
"You will have your wish gratified soon, I have no doubt," resumed the
Colonel. "Well, now for the story of McColloch's mad ride for life and his
wonderful leap down Wheeling hill. A year ago, when the fort was besieged by
the Indians, the Major got through the lines and made off for Short Creek. He
returned next morning with forty mounted men. They marched boldly up to the
gate, and all succeeded in getting inside save the gallant Major, who had
waited to be the last man to go in. Finding it impossible to make the short
distance without going under the fire of the Indians, who had rushed up to
prevent the relief party from entering the fort, he wheeled his big stallion,
and, followed by the yelling band of savages, he took the road leading around
Betty Zane |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Travels with a Donkey in the Cevenne by Robert Louis Stevenson: bag, insinuated my limbs into the interior, and buckled myself in
like a bambino. I opened a tin of Bologna sausage and broke a cake
of chocolate, and that was all I had to eat. It may sound
offensive, but I ate them together, bite by bite, by way of bread
and meat. All I had to wash down this revolting mixture was neat
brandy: a revolting beverage in itself. But I was rare and
hungry; ate well, and smoked one of the best cigarettes in my
experience. Then I put a stone in my straw hat, pulled the flap of
my fur cap over my neck and eyes, put my revolver ready to my hand,
and snuggled well down among the sheepskins.
I questioned at first if I were sleepy, for I felt my heart beating
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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 Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy: he thundered. "'Leery,' indeed. One would think you worked
upon a farm! One day I learn that you lend a hand in public-
houses. Then I hear you talk like a clodhopper. I'm
burned, if it goes on, this house can't hold us two."
The only way of getting a single pleasant thought to go to
sleep upon after this was by recalling the lady she had seen
that day, and hoping she might see her again.
Meanwhile Henchard was sitting up, thinking over his jealous
folly in forbidding Farfrae to pay his addresses to this
girl who did not belong to him, when if he had allowed them
to go on he might not have been encumbered with her. At
The Mayor of Casterbridge |
