| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: trodden going down to the river for water. It led straight up to the
Captain's tent, and the little flat-topped tree, with its white stem, and
its two gnarled branches spread out on either side. When he was within
forty paces of it, he paused. Far over the other side of the camp the two
men who were on guard stood chatting by the fire. A dead stillness was
over the rest of the camp. The light through the walls of the Captain's
tent made all clear at the stem of the little tree; but there was no sound
of movement within.
For a moment Peter Halket stood motionless; then he walked up to the tree.
The black man hung against the white stem, so closely bound to it that they
seemed one. His hands were tied to his sides, and his head drooped on his
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence: She remained kneeling for some time, quite still, and deeply moved,
her black hair against the red squares and the lavender-sprigged
squares of the patchwork quilt. Prayer was almost essential to her.
Then she fell into that rapture of self-sacrifice,
identifying herself with a God who was sacrificed, which gives
to so many human souls their deepest bliss.
When she went downstairs Paul was lying back in an armchair,
holding forth with much vehemence to Agatha, who was scorning a little
painting he had brought to show her. Miriam glanced at the two,
and avoided their levity. She went into the parlour to be alone.
It was tea-time before she was able to speak to Paul, and then
Sons and Lovers |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: plaster it over, like my Lord Pately, with powder.
HASTINGS. You are right, madam; for, as among the ladies there are
none ugly, so among the men there are none old.
MRS. HARDCASTLE. But what do you think his answer was? Why, with his
usual Gothic vivacity, he said I only wanted him to throw off his wig,
to convert it into a tete for my own wearing.
HASTINGS. Intolerable! At your age you may wear what you please, and
it must become you.
MRS. HARDCASTLE. Pray, Mr. Hastings, what do you take to be the most
fashionable age about town?
HASTINGS. Some time ago, forty was all the mode; but I'm told the
She Stoops to Conquer |
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 Illustrious Gaudissart by Honore de Balzac: bourgeoisie,--a leader among the small proprietors, all of them
envious, jealous, delighted to catch up and retail gossip and
calumnies against the aristocracy; dragging things down to their own
level; and at war with all kinds of superiority, which they deposited
with the fine composure of ignorance. Monsieur Vernier--such was the
name of this great little man--was just finishing his breakfast, with
his wife and daughter on either side of him, when Gaudissart entered
the room through a window that looked out on the Loire and the Cher,
and lighted one of the gayest dining-rooms of that gay land.
"Is this Monsieur Vernier himself?" said the traveller, bending his
vertebral column with such grace that it seemed to be elastic.
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