The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner: ...
Late in the evening of the same day Waldo knelt on the floor of his cabin.
He bathed the foot of his dog which had been pierced by a thorn. The
bruises on his own back had had five days to heal in, and, except a little
stiffness in his movements, there was nothing remarkable about the boy.
The troubles of the young are soon over; they leave no external mark. If
you wound the tree in its youth the bark will quickly cover the gash; but
when the tree is very old, peeling the bark off, and looking carefully, you
will see the scar there still. All that is buried is not dead.
Waldo poured the warm milk over the little swollen foot; Doss lay very
quiet, with tears in his eyes. Then there was a tap at the door. In an
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dark Lady of the Sonnets by George Bernard Shaw: would have more wit than to stain the floor so foully. Hold not up
her head so: the hair is false. I tell you yet again, Mary's buried:
she cannot come out of her grave. I fear her not: these cats that
dare jump into thrones though they be fit only for men's laps must be
put away. Whats done cannot be undone. Out, I say. Fie! a queen,
and freckled!
THE MAN. _[shaking her arm]_ Mary, I say: art asleep?
_The Lady wakes; starts; and nearly faints. He catches her on his
arm._
THE LADY. Where am I? What art thou?
THE MAN. I cry your mercy. I have mistook your person all this
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