| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: suitable to all ages and dimes, but especially to this century
and country. Both, he intimated, are fain to supply the lack of
higher abilities to which they pretend, with craft; and attract
attention by undertaking strange things which can never be
performed. By both the people are pleased and deluded; the
expectation of good in the future drawing their eyes from the
certainty of evil in the present.
The sage Alexander Bendo then discoursed of miraculous cures
which he could effect, but he would set down no word in his bill
which bore an unclean sound. It was enough that he made himself
understood, but indeed he had seen physicians' bills containing
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: that pace; desperately she tried to get the swing of the horse,
to be of some help to him in that race, to see the best of the
ground and guide him into it. But she failed of everything except
to keep her seat the saddle, and to spur and spur. At times she
closed her eyes unable to bear sight of Fay's golden curls
streaming in the wind. She could not pray; she could not rail;
she no longer cared for herself. All of life, of good, of use in
the world, of hope in heaven entered in Lassiter's ride with
little Fay to safety. She would have tried to turn the iron-jawed
brute she rode, she would have given herself to that relentless,
dark-browed Tull. But she knew Lassiter would turn with her, so
Riders of the Purple Sage |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Dracula by Bram Stoker: against the jamb that part of the woodwork was splintered.
I could see that the bolt of the lock had not been shot,
but the door is fastened from the inside. I fear it was no dream,
and must act on this surmise.
19 May.--I am surely in the toils. Last night the Count
asked me in the sauvest tones to write three letters,
one saying that my work here was nearly done, and that I
should start for home within a few days,another that I was
starting on the next morning from the time of the letter,
and the third that I had left the castle and arrived at Bistritz.
I would fain have rebelled, but felt that in the present state
Dracula |
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 A Drama on the Seashore by Honore de Balzac: enchanting music, Mozart's "Audiamo mio ben," for instance. When two
pure sentiments blend together, what is that but two sweet voices
singing? To be able to appreciate properly the emotion that held us,
it would be necessary to share the state of half sensuous delight into
which the events of the morning had plunged us. Admire for a long time
some pretty dove with iridescent colors, perched on a swaying branch
above a spring, and you will give a cry of pain when you see a hawk
swooping down upon her, driving its steel claws into her breast, and
bearing her away with murderous rapidity. When we had advanced a step
or two into an open space which lay before what seemed to be a grotto,
a sort of esplanade placed a hundred feet above the ocean, and
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