| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: "Bright as day, nearly. Perfect, for the distance--fifteen yards.
No wind--not a breath; hot and still."
"All good; all first-rate. Here, Pembroke, read this, and witness it."
Pembroke read and witnessed the will, then gave the old man's hand
a hearty shake and said:
"Now that's right, York--but I knew you would do it. You couldn't
leave that poor chap to fight along without means or profession,
with certain defeat before him, and I knew you wouldn't, for his
father's sake if not for his own."
"For his dead father's sake, I couldn't, I know; for poor Percy--
but you know what Percy was to me. But mind--Tom is not to know
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy: them became at times half dissipated by her sense of its
humourousness. When Lucetta had pricked her finger they
were as deeply concerned as if she were dying; when she
herself had been seriously sick or in danger they uttered a
conventional word of sympathy at the news, and forgot all
about it immediately. But, as regarded Henchard, this
perception of hers also caused her some filial grief; she
could not help asking what she had done to be neglected so,
after the professions of solicitude he had made. As
regarded Farfrae, she thought, after honest reflection, that
it was quite natural. What was she beside Lucetta?--as one
The Mayor of Casterbridge |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: murmur of its willows. Beyond, distinct in the sunlight, rise
little white houses, with red roofs, and manufactories, which, at
that distance, put an admirable finish to the landscape. Beyond
that, Paris in the mist! As Prudence had told us, it was the real
country, and, I must add, it was a real lunch.
It is not only out of gratitude for the happiness I owe it, but
Bougival, in spite of its horrible name, is one of the prettiest
places that it is possible to imagine. I have travelled a good
deal, and seen much grander things, but none more charming than
this little village gaily seated at the foot of the hill which
protects it.
Camille |
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 Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: The garrison of Omsk, reduced to two thousand men, re-
sisted valiantly. But driven back, little by little, from the
mercantile portion of the place, they were compelled to
take refuge in the upper town.
It was there that the Governor-General, his officers, and
soldiers had entrenched themselves. They had made the
upper quarter of Omsk a kind of citadel, and hitherto they
held out well in this species of improvised "kreml," but
without much hope of the promised succor. The Tartar
troops, who were descending the Irtych, received every day
fresh reinforcements, and, what was more serious, they
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