| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: the Marquis of Ormond, the Earl of Oxford, Earl of Norwich, Earl
of St. Albans, Lords De la Ware, Sands, Berkeley, and several
other of the nobility, with knights and gentlemen of great
quality. Sir John Robinson, alderman of London, proposed his
majesty's health, which was pledged standing by all present. His
majesty was the while entertained with a variety of rare music.
This supper was given on the 16th of June; and a couple of weeks
later, on the 5th of July, the king went "with as much pompe and
splendour as any earthly prince could do to the greate Citty
feast, the first they had invited him to since his returne."
But whilst entertainments were given, and diversions occupied the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from One Basket by Edna Ferber: Dunder's stricken eyes and shrinking, quivering body.
Bella screamed again, still clinging to him. Ben was saying:
"He won't hurt you. He won't hurt you," meanwhile patting her
shoulder reassuringly. He looked down at her pale face. She was
so slight, so childlike, so apparently different from the sturdy
country girls. From--well, from the girls he knew. Her
helplessness, her utter femininity, appealed to all that was
masculine in him. Bella, the experienced, clinging to him, felt
herself swept from head to foot by a queer electric tingling that
was very pleasant but that still had in it something of the
sensation of a wholesale bumping of one's crazy bone. If she had
One Basket |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: stillness of the night was marked by an occasional remote baying
of dogs; all these people kept dogs because of the near
neighbourhood of the frontier.
Death!
It was one of those rare seasons of relief, when for a little
time one walks a little outside of and beside life. I felt as I
sometimes feel after the end of a play. I saw the whole business
of my uncle's life as something familiar and completed. It was
done, like a play one leaves, like a book one closes. I thought
of the push and the promotions, the noise of London, the crowded,
various company of people through which our lives had gone, the
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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 Gambara by Honore de Balzac: talent, and incorruptibly honest. He was born into the wrong times,
for he tells the truth to everybody; no one can endure him. He writes
theatrical articles for two small papers, though he is clever enough
to work for the great dailies. Poor fellow!
"The rest are not worth mentioning, and Your Excellency will find them
out," he concluded, seeing that on the entrance of the musician's wife
the Count had ceased to listen to him.
On seeing Andrea here, Signora Marianna started visibly and a bright
flush tinged her cheeks.
"Here he is!" said Giardini, in an undertone, clutching the Count's
arm and nodding to a tall man. "How pale and grave he is poor man! His
Gambara |
