| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: knew that they were acquisitions by inheritance rather
than by the personal prowess of the present master of
Colfax.
A single cresset lighted the chamber, while the flicker-
ing light from a small wood fire upon one of the two
great hearths seemed rather to accentuate the dim shad-
ows of the place.
Bertrade crossed the room and leaned against a mas-
sive oak table, blackened by age and hard usage to the
color of the beams above, dented and nicked by the
pounding of huge drinking horns and heavy swords
The Outlaw of Torn |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Weir of Hermiston by Robert Louis Stevenson: subjects, and ill husbands to their wives though not their properties.
Tales of them were rife for twenty miles about; and their name was even
printed in the page of our Scots histories, not always to their credit.
One bit the dust at Flodden; one was hanged at his peel door by James
the Fifth; another fell dead in a carouse with Tom Dalyell; while a
fourth (and that was Jean's own father) died presiding at a Hell-Fire
Club, of which he was the founder. There were many heads shaken in
Crossmichael at that judgment; the more so as the man had a villainous
reputation among high and low, and both with the godly and the worldly.
At that very hour of his demise, he had ten going pleas before the
Session, eight of them oppressive. And the same doom extended even to
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: hearing,' and (who say) 'ra'hina,' distorting it with their tongues
and taunting about religion. But had they said, 'We hear and we
obey, so listen and look upon us,' it would have been better for
them and more upright;- but may God curse them in their misbelief, for
they will not believe except a few.
O ye who have been given the Book! believe in what we have revealed,
confirming what ye had before; ere we deface your faces and turn
them into hinder parts, or curse you as we cursed the fellows of the
Sabbath when God's command was done.
Verily, God pardons not associating aught with Him, but He pardons
anything short of that to whomsoever He pleases; but he who associates
The Koran |
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 Othello by William Shakespeare: There, giue it your Hobbey-horse, wheresoeuer you had
it, Ile take out no worke on't
Cassio. How now, my sweete Bianca?
How now? How now?
Othe. By Heauen, that should be my Handkerchiefe
Bian. If you'le come to supper to night you may, if
you will not come when you are next prepar'd for.
Exit
Iago. After her: after her
Cas. I must, shee'l rayle in the streets else
Iago. Will you sup there?
Othello |
