| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories by Mark Twain: F. Cursed, infernal woman! Weepest thou for him to my face? He that
hath robbed me of my peace, my energy, the whole love of my life?
Could I call the fabled Hydra, I would have him live and perish,
survive and die, until the sun itself would grow dim with age.
I would make him have the thirst of a Tantalus, and roll the
wheel of an Ixion, until the stars of heaven should quit their
brilliant stations.
A. Oh, invincible God, save me! Oh, unsupportable moment! Oh, heavy
hour! Banish me,, Farcillo--send me where no eye can ever see me, where
no sound shall ever great my ear; but, oh, slay me not, Farcillo; vent thy
rage and thy spite upon this emaciated frame of mine, only spare my life.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Hermione's Little Group of Serious Thinkers by Don Marquis: Modern thought complicates LIFE immensely,
doesn't it?
But I always feel that it is my duty to give the
best in myself to these problems.
Someone must help Evolution evolve. Someone
must be unselfish enough to give the cosmos new
marks to come up to.
And who but the serious thinkers are willing to
sacrifice themselves?
Well, we finally decided to do every room in
the house differently -- each one to fit a mood, you
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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 The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne: to say, to become fat under Neb's care. Master Jup, entrusted with carrying
them their daily nourishment, leavings from the kitchen, etc., acquitted
himself conscientiously of his task. He sometimes amused himself at the
expense of his little pensioners by tweaking their tails; but this was
mischief, and not wickedness, for these little twisted tails amused him
like a plaything, and his instinct was that of a child. One day in this
month of March, Pencroft, talking to the engineer, reminded Cyrus Harding
of a promise which the latter had not as yet had time to fulfil.
"You once spoke of an apparatus which would take the place of the long
ladders at Granite House, captain," said he; "won't you make it some day?"
"Nothing will be easier; but is this a really useful thing?"
The Mysterious Island |
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 Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey: panther. But she need not have been either resolute or strong,
for the clasp of her hand was enough to make Duane weak.
"Up yet, Ray?" came Longstreth's clear voice, too strained, too
eager to be natural.
"No. I'm in bed reading. Good night," instantly replied Miss
Longstreth, so calmly and naturally that Duane marveled at the
difference between man and woman. Then she motioned for Duane
to hide in the closet. He slipped in, but the door would not
close altogether.
"Are you alone?" went on Longstreth's penetrating voice.
"Yes," she replied. "Ruth went to bed."
The Lone Star Ranger |
