| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: share in anything that looked like deliverance, but rather added to
the affliction than proposed a remedy; and upon this he repeated a
Spanish proverb, which, though I cannot repeat in the same words
that he spoke it in, yet I remember I made it into an English
proverb of my own, thus:-
"In trouble to be troubled,
Is to have your trouble doubled."
He then ran on in remarks upon all the little improvements I had
made in my solitude: my unwearied application, as he called it;
and how I had made a condition, which in its circumstances was at
first much worse than theirs, a thousand times more happy than
Robinson Crusoe |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: pale.
"And now," Wyant continued, "you will perhaps be good enough to
tell me what all this means."
There was no mistaking the effect produced on Count Ottaviano by
this request. His lips moved, but he achieved only an
ineffectual smile.
"I suppose you know," Wyant went on, his anger rising at the
sight of the other's discomfiture, "that you have taken an
unwarrantable liberty. I don't yet understand what part I have
been made to play, but it's evident that you have made use of me
to serve some purpose of your own, and I propose to know the
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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 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: increase the irritation. She talked on, therefore, without
interruption from any of them, till they were joined by Mr.
Collins, who entered the room with an air more stately than
usual, and on perceiving whom, she said to the girls, "Now, I do
insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold your tongues, and let me
and Mr. Collins have a little conversation together."
Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty
followed, but Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all she
could; and Charlotte, detained first by the civility of Mr. Collins,
whose inquiries after herself and all her family were very minute,
and then by a little curiosity, satisfied herself with walking to the
Pride and Prejudice |
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 Under the Andes by Rex Stout: in front of the others, a little to the right. I pointed him out
to Harry and Desiree.
"It's up to him to walk right out again," said Harry.
Desiree shivered, and proceeded to send her last invitation to
the devil.
Turning suddenly, she grasped Harry's spear and tore it from
his hand. Before we realized her purpose, she stepped forward
until her foot rested on the very edge of the chasm, and had hurled
the spear across straight at the Inca king.
It missed him, but struck another Inca standing near full in
the breast. Quick as lightning the king turned, grasped the shaft
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