| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy: "Maybe so, Mr. Henchard," said the weather-caster.
"Ah--why do you call me that?" asked the visitor with a
start.
"Because it's your name. Feeling you'd come I've waited for
'ee; and thinking you might be leery from your walk I laid
two supper plates--look ye here." He threw open the door and
disclosed the supper-table, at which appeared a second
chair, knife and fork, plate and mug, as he had declared.
Henchard felt like Saul at his reception by Samuel; he
remained in silence for a few moments, then throwing off the
disguise of frigidity which he had hitherto preserved he
The Mayor of Casterbridge |
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 Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft: He felt from the chill that he must be near the snow line, and
looked up to see what glittering pinnacles might be shining in
that late ruddy sunlight. Surely enough, there was the snow uncounted
thousands of feet above, and below it a great beetling crag like
that. he had just climbed; hanging there forever in bold outline.
And when he saw that crag he gasped and cried out aloud, and clutched
at the jagged rock in awe; for the titan bulge had not stayed
as earth's dawn had shaped it, but gleamed red and stupendous
in the sunset with the carved and polished features of a god.
Stern and terrible shone that face that the sunset lit with
fire. How vast it was no mind can ever measure, but Carter knew
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath |
