| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan: with it, and there's an end of it.
SIR OLIVER. [Aside.] How like his father the dog is.-- [Aloud.]
Well, well, I have done.-- [Aside.] I did not perceive it before,
but I think I never saw such a striking resemblance.-- [Aloud.]
Here is a draught for your sum.
CHARLES. Why, 'tis for eight hundred pounds!
SIR OLIVER. You will not let Sir Oliver go?
CHARLES. Zounds! no! I tell you, once more.
SIR OLIVER. Then never mind the difference, we'll balance that
another time. But give me your hand on the bargain; you are an
honest fellow, Charles--I beg pardon, sir, for being so free.--
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from King James Bible: EXO 29:22 Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the
fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two
kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder; for it
is a ram of consecration:
EXO 29:23 And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one
wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD:
EXO 29:24 And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the
hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the
LORD.
EXO 29:25 And thou shalt receive them of their hands, and burn them
upon the altar for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour before the LORD:
King James Bible |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Hamlet by William Shakespeare: By Heau'n, Ile make a Ghost of him that lets me:
I say away, goe on, Ile follow thee.
Exeunt. Ghost & Hamlet.
Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination
Mar. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him
Hor. Haue after, to what issue will this come?
Mar. Something is rotten in the State of Denmarke
Hor. Heauen will direct it
Mar. Nay, let's follow him.
Exeunt.
Enter Ghost and Hamlet.
Hamlet |
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 The Shadow Line by Joseph Conrad: I meant to be very energetic and final, but
Captain Giles continued to gaze at me thought-
fully. Nothing could stop him. He went on to
point out that my personality was involved in
that conversation. When I tried to preserve the
semblance of unconcern he became positively
cruel. I heard what the man had said? Yes?
What did I think of it then?--he wanted to know.
Captain Giles' appearance excluding the sus-
picion of mere sly malice, I came to the conclusion
that he was simply the most tactless idiot on earth.
The Shadow Line |
