| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: amphibious and all-cunning animal, capable of turning his hand to
everything, from needlework and carpentry to gunnery or hand-to-
hand blows; and he was, moreover, one of a nation, every citizen of
which was not merely permitted to carry arms, but compelled by law
to practise from childhood the use of the bow, and accustomed to
consider sword-play and quarter-staff as a necessary part and
parcel of education, and the pastime of every leisure hour. The
"fiercest nation upon earth," as they were then called, and the
freest also, each man of them fought for himself with the self-help
and self-respect of a Yankee ranger, and once bidden to do his
work, was trusted to carry it out by his own wit as best he could.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "Nary gun, Em. So let's die as brave an' graceful as we can. I knew
our luck couldn't last!"
"I won't die. I won't be eaten by a lion!" wailed Aunt Em, glaring
upon the huge beast. Then a thought struck her, and she whispered,
"Henry, I've heard as savage beastses can be conquered by the human
eye. I'll eye that lion out o' countenance an' save our lives."
"Try it, Em," he returned, also in a whisper. "Look at him as you do
at me when I'm late to dinner."
Aunt Em turned upon the Lion a determined countenance and a wild dilated
eye. She glared at the immense beast steadily, and the Lion, who had
been quietly blinking at them, began to appear uneasy and disturbed.
The Emerald City of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Father Sergius by Leo Tolstoy: devil and not a simple, kindly, sweet, timid woman, was
impossible.
'Who are you? Why have you come?' he asked.
'Do please open the door!' she replied, with capricious
authority. 'I am frozen. I tell you I have lost my way.'
'But I am a monk--a hermit.'
'Oh, do please open the door--or do you wish me to freeze under
your window while you say your prayers?'
'But how have you . . .'
'I shan't eat you. For God's sake let me in! I am quite
frozen.'
|
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 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: on board, calm, unflinching, unmurmuring.
On that day the ordinary work was accomplished with unusual vigour.
Only two yards remained to be raised from the surface.
Two yards only separated us from the open sea. But the reservoirs
were nearly emptied of air. The little that remained ought
to be kept for the workers; not a particle for the Nautilus.
When I went back on board, I was half suffocated. What a night!
I know not how to describe it. The next day my breathing
was oppressed. Dizziness accompanied the pain in my head and made
me like a drunken man. My companions showed the same symptoms.
Some of the crew had rattling in the throat.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |
