| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: estate."
"Surely, I never went so far as that," said Dodd. "Interested? I
guess not. Involved, perhaps. I was born an artist; I never took
an interest in anything but art. If I were to pile up this old
schooner to-morrow," he added, "I declare I believe I would try
the thing again!"
"Insured?" inquired Havens.
"Yes," responded Dodd. "There's some fool in 'Frisco who
insures us, and comes down like a wolf on the fold on the
profits; but we'll get even with him some day."
"Well, I suppose it's all right about the cargo," said Havens.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Amy Foster by Joseph Conrad: even when he learned to speak intelligibly, could
tell us very little. He remembered he had felt bet-
ter (after the ship had anchored, I suppose), and
that the darkness, the wind, and the rain took his
breath away. This looks as if he had been on deck
some time during that night. But we mustn't forget
he had been taken out of his knowledge, that he
had been sea-sick and battened down below for four
days, that he had no general notion of a ship or of
the sea, and therefore could have no definite idea
of what was happening to him. The rain, the
Amy Foster |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: guards enter from both sides.)
Egmont (after a pause). The king?--Orange! Orange! (after a pause,
resigning his sword). Take it! It has been employed far oftener in
defending the cause of my king than in protecting this breast.
(He retires by the centre door, followed by the guard and Alva's son. Alva
remains standing while the curtain falls.)
ACT V
Scene I.--A Street. Twilight
Clara, Brackenburg, Burghers
Brackenburg. Dearest, for Heaven's sake, what wouldst thou do?
Clara. Come with me, Brackenburg! Thou canst not know the people, we
Egmont |
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 Koran: repentant to God, O ye believers! haply ye may prosper.
And marry the single amongst you, and the righteous among your
servants and your handmaidens. If they be poor, God will enrich them
of His grace, for God both comprehends and knows. And let those who
cannot find a match, until God enriches them of His grace, keep
chaste.
And such of those whom your right hands possess as crave a
writing, write it for them, if ye know any good in them, and give them
of the wealth of God which He has given you. And do not compel your
slave girls to prostitution, if they desire to keep continent, in
order to crave the goods of the life of this world; but he who does
The Koran |
