| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy: How did she get here?" said one of the women.
"The Lord knows." said the other.
There is a dog outside," murmured the overcome
traveller. "Where is he gone? He helped me."
I stoned him away." said the man.
The little procession then moved forward -- the man
in front bearing the light, the two bony women next,
supporting between them the small and supple one.
Thus they entered the house and disappeared.
CHAPTER XLI
SUSPICION -- FANNY IS SENT FOR
Far From the Madding Crowd |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Marie by H. Rider Haggard: he appeared to be flying almost straight into the empyrean. I stared
and stared. Everybody stared, till that enormous bird became, first a
mere blot upon the blue, and at length but a speck. Then it vanished
altogether into regions far beyond the sight of man.
"Now there is an end," I said to Hans.
"Ja, baas," answered the Hottentot between his chattering teeth, "there
is an end. You did not put in enough powder. Presently we shall all be
dead."
"Not quite," I said with a bitter laugh. "Hans, load the rifle, load it
quick. Before they die there shall be another king in Zululand."
"Good, good!" he exclaimed as he loaded desperately. "Let us take that
Marie |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Vailima Prayers & Sabbath Morn by Robert Louis Stevenson: disappointment with their frailties. Bless our family, bless our
forest house, bless our island helpers. Thou who hast made for us
this place of ease and hope, accept and inflame our gratitude; help
us to repay, in service one to another, the debt of thine unmerited
benefits and mercies, so that, when the period of our stewardship
draws to a conclusion, when the windows begin to be darkened, when
the bond of the family is to be loosed, there shall be no
bitterness of remorse in our farewells.
Help us to look back on the long way that Thou hast brought us, on
the long days in which we have been served, not according to our
deserts, but our desires; on the pit and the miry clay, the
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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 Maitre Cornelius by Honore de Balzac: chair-strip, and the walls above were hung with yellow leather stamped
with black arabesques; but what struck the young man most was a match-
lock pistol with its formidable trigger. This new and terrible weapon
lay close to Cornelius.
"How do you expect to earn your living with me?" said the latter.
"I have but little money," replied Philippe, "but I know good tricks
in business. If you will pay me a sou on every mark I earn for you,
that will satisfy me."
"A sou! a sou!" echoed the miser; "why, that's a good deal!"
At this moment the old sibyl returned with the key.
"Come," said Cornelius to Philippe.
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