| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde: be the result. But it has not been so.
LADY CHILTERN. Public honour has been the result.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I think so. I fear so, almost. For although I
am safe from detection, although every proof against me is destroyed,
I suppose, Gertrude . . . I suppose I should retire from public life?
[He looks anxiously at his wife.]
LADY CHILTERN. [Eagerly.] Oh yes, Robert, you should do that. It
is your duty to do that.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. It is much to surrender.
LADY CHILTERN. No; it will be much to gain.
[SIR ROBERT CHILTERN walks up and down the room with a troubled
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen: headache with us.
The candles were now lighted--what brightness! What splendor! The Tree
trembled so in every bough that one of the tapers set fire to the foliage. It
blazed up famously.
"Help! Help!" cried the young ladies, and they quickly put out the fire.
Now the Tree did not even dare tremble. What a state he was in! He was so
uneasy lest he should lose something of his splendor, that he was quite
bewildered amidst the glare and brightness; when suddenly both folding-doors
opened and a troop of children rushed in as if they would upset the Tree. The
older persons followed quietly; the little ones stood quite still. But it was
only for a moment; then they shouted that the whole place re-echoed with their
Fairy Tales |
