| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: from quiet, in consequence of Mrs. Almayer being much too active
for the happiness and even safety of the household. She had
resumed some intercourse with Lakamba, not personally, it is true
(for the dignity of that potentate kept him inside his stockade),
but through the agency of that potentate's prime minister,
harbour master, financial adviser, and general factotum. That
gentleman--of Sulu origin--was certainly endowed with
statesmanlike qualities, although he was totally devoid of
personal charms. In truth he was perfectly repulsive, possessing
only one eye and a pockmarked face, with nose and lips horribly
disfigured by the small-pox. This unengaging individual often
Almayer's Folly |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson: There were times when I have thought to myself, "If she were over head
in love, and set her cap to catch me, she would scarce behave much
otherwise;" and then I would fall again into wonder at the simplicity
of woman, from whom I felt (in these moments) that I was not worthy to
be descended.
There was one point in particular on which our warfare turned, and of
all things, this was the question of her clothes. My baggage had soon
followed me from Rotterdam, and hers from Helvoet. She had now, as it
were, two wardrobes; and it grew to be understood between us (I could
never tell how) that when she was friendly she would wear my clothes,
and when otherwise her own. It was meant for a buffet, and (as it
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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 The Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde: Repent, perchance, and lead a better life,
Or will he mock because a young man spared
His natural enemy? I do not care.
Father, it is thy bidding that I do,
Thy bidding, and the bidding of my love
Which teaches me to know thee as thou art.
[Ascends staircase stealthily, and just as he reaches out his hand
to draw back the curtain the Duchess appears all in white. GUIDO
starts back.]
DUCHESS
Guido! what do you here so late?
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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 The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: deceive them. It is flung out after a brief inspection.
Still, the clever ones, like the silly ones, run even from a
distance, from their leafy ambush. How do they know? Certainly
not by sight. Before recognizing their mistake, they have to hold
the object between their legs and even to nibble at it a little.
They are extremely short-sighted. At a hand's-breadth's distance,
the lifeless prey, unable to shake the web, remains unperceived.
Besides, in many cases, the hunting takes place in the dense
darkness of the night, when sight, even if it were good, would not
avail.
If the eyes are insufficient guides, even close at hand, how will
The Life of the Spider |
