| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson: been offered by a similar monster. I plucked myself from his
horrid contact, I snatched the pistol - even discharged, it was a
formidable weapon - and menaced him with the butt. 'Spare you!' I
cried, 'you beast!'
His voice died in his fat inwards, but his lips still vehemently
framed the same words of supplication. My anger began to pass off,
but not all my repugnance; the picture he made revolted me, and I
was impatient to be spared the further view of it.
'Here,' said I, 'stop this performance: it sickens me. I am not
going to kill you, do you hear? I have need of you.'
A look of relief, that I could almost have called beautiful, dawned
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: her. You know that was a kind of scurvy trick to play on a
sister."
Scarlett rose from his shoulder, furious as a rattler ready to
strike.
"Scurvy trick, hey? I'll thank you to keep a civil tongue in your
head, Will Benteen! Could I help it if he preferred me to her?"
"You're a smart girl, Scarlett, and I figger, yes, you could have
helped him preferrin' you. Girls always can. But I guess you kind
of coaxed him. You're a mighty takin' person when you want to be,
but all the same, he was Suellen's beau. Why, she'd had a letter
from him a week before you went to Atlanta and he was sweet as
Gone With the Wind |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy: I can tell you what we quarrelled about as we walk along."
"Where to?"
"To Wildeve's--that was her destination, depend upon it."
Thomasin here broke in, still weeping: "He said he
was only going on a sudden short journey; but if so why
did he want so much money? O, Clym, what do you think
will happen? I am afraid that you, my poor baby,
will soon have no father left to you!"
"I am off now," said Yeobright, stepping into the porch.
"I would fain go with 'ee," said the old man doubtfully.
"But I begin to be afraid that my legs will hardly carry me
Return of the Native |
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 Jerusalem Delivered by Torquato Tasso: Why run you not, there for your sins to weep
Or to what greater need these forces keep?"
LXXV
Thus scorned by that heathen Saracine
Were all the soldiers of Christ's sacred name:
Raymond, while others at his words repine,
Burst forth in rage, he could not bear this shame:
For fire of courage brighter far doth shine
If challenges and threats augment the same;
So that, upon his steed he mounted light,
Which Aquilino for his swiftness hight.
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