| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather: but he had never happened to hear of her.
"All the same," he lifted his glass, "here's to you,
little Hilda. You've made things come your way,
and I never thought you'd do it.
"Of course," he reflected, "she always had
that combination of something homely and
sensible, and something utterly wild and daft.
But I never thought she'd do anything.
She hadn't much ambition then, and she was
too fond of trifles. She must care about the
theatre a great deal more than she used to.
Alexander's Bridge |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: belief. Keep these three precepts, and may it be well with
thee.' The man, admiring the lucidity and sense of her words,
freed the bird from her captivity, and sent her forth aloft.
She, therefore, desirous to know whether the man had understood
the force of her words, and whether he had gleaned any profit
therefrom, said, as she flew aloft, `Shame, sir, on thy
fecklessness! What a treasure that hast lost to-day! For I have
inside me a pearl larger than an ostrich-egg.' When the fowler
heard thereof, he was distraught with grief, regretting that the
bird had escaped out of his hands. And he would fain have taken
her again. `Come hither,' said he, `into my house: I will make
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare: She dares not thereof make discovery,
Lest he should hold it her own gross abuse,
Ere she with blood had stain'd her stain'd excuse.
Besides, the life and feeling of her passion
She hoards, to spend when he is by to hear her;
When sighs, and groans, and tears may grace the fashion
Of her disgrace, the better so to clear her
From that suspicion which the world my might bear her.
To shun this blot, she would not blot the letter
With words, till action might become them better.
To see sad sights moves more than hear them told;
|
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 Under the Andes by Rex Stout: us now, and the light on the surface of the lake was very dim, but
soon I made out Harry's head. He was swimming easily toward me,
apparently unhurt.
"All right, Hal?"
"Right. And you?"
"Sound as a whistle. Now make for the column."
At the instant that we turned to swim toward the column I
became aware of a strong current in the water carrying us off to
the right. It was inexplicable, but there was no time then for
speculation, and we struck out with bold, sweeping strokes.
The Incas had left the stone seats and advanced to the water's
|
