| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: and I wish that I were well out of Sherwood Forest."
But still they traveled deeper into the forest shades, and the deeper
they went, the more quiet grew the Sheriff. At last they came
to where the road took a sudden bend, and before them a herd of dun
deer went tripping across the path. Then Robin Hood came close
to the Sheriff and pointing his finger, he said, "These are my
horned beasts, good Master Sheriff. How dost thou like them?
Are they not fat and fair to see?"
At this the Sheriff drew rein quickly. "Now fellow," quoth he,
"I would I were well out of this forest, for I like not thy company.
Go thou thine own path, good friend, and let me but go mine."
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells: a schooner called the Ipecacuanha with a drunken captain, John Davies,
did start from Africa with a puma and certain other animals aboard
in January, 1887, that the vessel was well known at several ports
in the South Pacific, and that it finally disappeared from those seas
(with a considerable amount of copra aboard), sailing to its unknown
fate from Bayna in December, 1887, a date that tallies entirely with my
uncle's story.
CHARLES EDWARD PRENDICK.
(The Story written by Edward Prendick.)
I. IN THE DINGEY OF THE "LADY VAIN."
I DO not propose to add anything to what has already been written
The Island of Doctor Moreau |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: much piqued on one point."
He looked disturbed. "What? what?" he said hastily. "Curiosity is
a dangerous petition: it is well I have not taken a vow to accord
every request--"
"But there can be no danger in complying with this, sir."
"Utter it, Jane: but I wish that instead of a mere inquiry into,
perhaps, a secret, it was a wish for half my estate."
"Now, King Ahasuerus! What do I want with half your estate? Do you
think I am a Jew-usurer, seeking good investment in land? I would
much rather have all your confidence. You will not exclude me from
your confidence if you admit me to your heart?"
Jane Eyre |
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 From London to Land's End by Daniel Defoe: them to work; to furnish them with cattle, horses, cows, hogs, &c.;
and to hire and pay labourers to inclose, clear, and cure the land,
which it would be supposed the first year would not be so much to
their advantage as afterwards, allowing them timber out of the
forest to build themselves houses and barns, sheds and offices, as
they should have occasion; also for carts, waggons, ploughs,
harrows, and the like necessary things: care to be taken that the
men and their families went to work forthwith according to the
design.
Thus twenty families would be immediately supplied and provided
for, for there would be no doubt but these families, with so much
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