| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: and began speaking.
"I was at a house near Regent's Park last night, and
when I came away the fancy took me to walk home instead of
taking a hansom. It was a clear pleasant night enough, and
after a few minutes I had the streets pretty much to myself.
It's a curious thing, Austin, to be alone in London at night,
the gas-lamps stretching away in perspective, and the dead
silence, and then perhaps the rush and clatter of a hansom on
the stones, and the fire starting up under the horse's hoofs.
I walked along pretty briskly, for I was feeling a little tired
of being out in the night, and as the clocks were striking two
The Great God Pan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Plutarch's Lives by A. H. Clough: houses of the conspirators, others up and down the city, to find
out the men and tear them to pieces, but met, however, with none
of them, they having taken effectual care to secure themselves.
One Cinna, a friend of Caesar's, chanced the night before to
have an odd dream. He fancied that Caesar invited him to
supper, and that upon his refusal to go with him, Caesar took
him by the hand and forced him, though he hung back. Upon
hearing the report that Caesar's body was burning in the
market-place, he got up and went thither, out of respect to his
memory, though his dream gave him some ill apprehensions, and
though he was suffering from a fever. One of the crowd who saw
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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 Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: orders, and I fear we must break up your little party."
At this Tony saw Count Rialto step forward, looking very small
and explanatory, and uncovering obsequiously to the captain.
"I can assure you, sir," said the Count in his best English,
"that this incident is the result of an unfortunate
misunderstanding, and if you will oblige us by dismissing these
myrmidons, any of my friends here will be happy to offer
satisfaction to Mr. Bracknell and his companions."
Mr. Mounce shrank visibly at this, and the captain burst into a
loud guffaw.
"Satisfaction?" says he. "Why, my cock, that's very handsome of
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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 Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: meditated so much over what had been told him, that by-and-by it
almost seemed as if a shadow of shame rested upon his father's
fair fame, even though the attaint set upon him was unrighteous
and unjust, as Myles knew it must be. He had felt angry and
resentful at the Earl's neglect, and as days passed and he was
not noticed in any way, his heart was at times very bitter.
So now Gascoyne's innocent question touched a sore spot, and
Myles spoke with a sharp, angry pain in his voice that made the
other look quickly up. "Sooner would my Lord have yonder
swineherd serve him in the household than me," said he.
"Why may that be, Myles?" said Gascoyne.
Men of Iron |
