| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: sometimes be seen, like bright things moving in a turbid river;
or a strong and singularly-shaped idea leaped forth, and seized
at once on the understanding or the heart. But the course of her
unearthly eloquence soon led her to the persecutions of her sect,
and from thence the step was short to her own peculiar sorrows.
She was naturally a woman of mighty passions, and hatred and
revenge now wrapped themselves in the garb of piety; the
character of her speech was changed, her images became distinct
though wild, and her denunciations had an almost hellish
bitterness.
"The Governor and his mighty men," she said, "have gathered
Twice Told Tales |
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 Ebb-Tide by Stevenson & Osbourne: cables' lengths you'll have twenty fathoms water and good holding
ground.'
The boat was manned with a couple of brown oarsmen in
scanty kilts of blue. The speaker, who was steering, wore white
clothes, the full dress oi the tropics; a wide hat shaded his
face; but it could be seen that be was of stalwart size, and his
voice sounded like a gentleman's. So much could be made out. It
was plain, besides, that the Farallone had been descried some
time before at sea, and the inhabitants were prepared for its
reception.
Mechanically the orders were obeyed, and the ship berthed;
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