| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe: second week in August, Cripplegate parish alone buried 886, and
Clarkenwell 155. Of the first, 850 might well be reckoned to die of
the plague; and of the last, the bill itself said 145 were of the plague.
During the month of July, and while, as I have observed, our part of
the town seemed to be spared in comparison of the west part, I went
ordinarily about the streets, as my business required, and particularly
went generally once in a day, or in two days, into the city, to my
brother's house, which he had given me charge of, and to see if it was
safe; and having the key in my pocket, I used to go into the house, and
over most of the rooms, to see that all was well; for though it be
something wonderful to tell, that any should have hearts so hardened
A Journal of the Plague Year |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: bargain--an undignified trial of wits at best. His father
had been Colonel Whalley (retired) of the H. E. I. Com-
pany's service, with very slender means besides his pen-
sion, but with distinguished connections. He could re-
member as a boy how frequently waiters at the inns, coun-
try tradesmen and small people of that sort, used to "My
lord" the old warrior on the strength of his appear-
ance.
Captain Whalley himself (he would have entered the
Navy if his father had not died before he was fourteen)
had something of a grand air which would have suited
End of the Tether |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: apparent reason, that makes me distrust him. But for Heaven's sake, Lew, how
would he profit by betraying us?"
"I don't know. All I know is he'll bear watchin'."
"My gracious, Lew Wetzel!" exclaimed Betty as her brother and the hunter
rejoined the others. "Have you come all the way over here without a gun? And
you have on a new suit of buckskin."
Lewis stood a moment by Betty, gazing down at her with his slight smile. He
looked exceedingly well. His face was not yet bronzed by summer suns. His long
black hair, of which he was as proud as a woman could have been, and of which
he took as much care as he did of his rifle, waved over his shoulders.
"Betty, this is my birthday, but that ain't the reason I've got my fine
Betty Zane |
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 Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence: herself go, and tear, tear, tear, as if she had no sensation in her
except in the top of her beak, the very outside top tip, that rubbed
and tore. That's how old whores used to be, so men used to say. It was
a low kind of self-will in her, a raving sort of self-will: like in a
woman who drinks. Well in the end I couldn't stand it. We slept apart.
She herself had started it, in her bouts when she wanted to be clear of
me, when she said I bossed her. She had started having a room for
herself. But the time came when I wouldn't have her coming to my room.
I wouldn't.
'I hated it. And she hated me. My God, how she hated me before that
child was born! I often think she conceived it out of hate. Anyhow,
Lady Chatterley's Lover |
