| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: On the day when the earth and the mountains shall tremble and the
earth shall be as a crumbling sand-hill!
Verily, we have sent unto yoti an apostle bearing witness against
you, as we sent an apostle unto Pharaoh.
But Pharaoh rebelled against the apostle, and we seized him with
an overpowering punishment.
Then how will ye shield yourselves if ye misbelieve from the day
which shall make children grey-headed, whereon the heaven
cleaves-its promise shall be fulfilled!
Verily, this is a memorial, and whoso will, let him take unto his
Lord a way.
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: how, to its ragged perpendicular face. During most of
the short journey to the summit I must admit that my
hair stood on end. Presently, however, we topped the
thing and stood upon the level mesa which crowned it.
Immediately from all about, out of burrows and
rough, rocky lairs, poured a perfect torrent of beasts
similar to my captors. They clustered about, jabber-
ing at my guards and attempting to get their hands
upon me, whether from curiosity or a desire to do me
bodily harm I did not know, since my escort with
bared fangs and heavy blows kept them off.
Pellucidar |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Sarrasine by Honore de Balzac: continued. 'All your faults, your frights, your petty foibles, add an
indescribable charm to your character. I feel that I should detest a
Sappho, a strong, courageous woman, overflowing with energy and
passion. O sweet and fragile creature! how couldst thou be otherwise?
That angel's voice, that refined voice, would have been an anachronism
coming from any other breast than thine.'
" 'I can give you no hope,' she said. 'Cease to speak thus to me, for
people would make sport of you. It is impossible for me to shut the
door of the theatre to you; but if you love me, or if you are wise,
you will come there no more. Listen to me, monsieur,' she continued in
a grave voice.
|
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 A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: And prove their doctrine orthodox,
By apostolic blows and knocks. BUTLER.
It was during the period of that great and bloody Civil War which
agitated Britain during the seventeenth century, that our tale
has its commencement. Scotland had as yet remained free from the
ravages of intestine war, although its inhabitants were much
divided in political opinions; and many of them, tired of the
control of the Estates of Parliament, and disapproving of the
bold measure which they had adopted, by sending into England a
large army to the assistance of the Parliament, were determined
on their part to embrace the earliest opportunity of declaring
|
