| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: at proper distances, of which some played by the impulse of the
wind, and some by the power of the stream.
This artist was sometimes visited by Rasselas who was pleased with
every kind of knowledge, imagining that the time would come when
all his acquisitions should be of use to him in the open world. He
came one day to amuse himself in his usual manner, and found the
master busy in building a sailing chariot. He saw that the design
was practicable upon a level surface, and with expressions of great
esteem solicited its completion. The workman was pleased to find
himself so much regarded by the Prince, and resolved to gain yet
higher honours. "Sir," said he, "you have seen but a small part of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Adieu by Honore de Balzac: bound into the field and thence to the post. "This way, d'Albon, this
way," he called back to his friend, pointing to a broad paved path and
reading aloud the sign: "'From Baillet to Ile-Adam.' We shall
certainly find the path to Cassan, which must branch from this one
between here and Ile-Adam."
"You are right, colonel," said Monsieur d'Albon, replacing upon his
head the cap with which he had been fanning himself.
"Forward then, my respectable privy councillor," replied Colonel
Philippe, whistling to the dogs, who seemed more willing to obey him
than the public functionary to whom they belonged.
"Are you aware, marquis," said the jeering soldier, "that we still
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving: or sweetmeats, or, peradventure, the parade of a silver teapot.
Our man of letters, therefore, was peculiarly happy in the smiles
of all the country damsels. How he would figure among them in the
churchyard, between services on Sundays; gathering grapes for
them from the wild vines that overran the surrounding trees;
reciting for their amusement all the epitaphs on the tombstones;
or sauntering, with a whole bevy of them, along the banks of the
adjacent mill-pond; while the more bashful country bumpkins hung
sheepishly back, envying his superior elegance and address.
From his half-itinerant life, also, he was a kind of
traveling gazette, carrying the whole budget of local gossip from
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow |
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 Breaking Point by Mary Roberts Rinehart: would mean; his recognition by people he could not remember, the
questions he could not answer.
He knew the letter to David from beginning to end, but he got it
out and read it again. Who was this Bassett, and what mischief
was he up to? Why should he himself be got out of town quickly
and the warning burned? Who was "G"? And why wouldn't the simplest
thing be to locate this Bassett himself?
The more he considered that the more obvious it seemed as a solution,
provided of course he could locate the man. Whether Bassett were
friendly or inimical, he was convinced that he knew or was finding
out something concerning himself which David was keeping from him.
The Breaking Point |
