| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: and clasping her to my breast to kiss her. But before my lips
touched hers I saw my error, for she whom I embraced was not Lily
Bozard, my betrothed, but Otomie, princess of the Otomie, who was
called my wife. Then I knew that this was the saddest and the most
bitter of dreams that had been sent to mock me, for all the truth
rushed into my mind. Losing my hold of Otomie, I fell back upon
the bed and groaned aloud, and as I fell I saw the flush of shame
upon her brow and breast. For this woman loved me, and thus my act
and words were an insult to her, who could guess well what prompted
them. Still she spoke gently.
'Pardon me, Teule, I came but to watch and not to waken you. I
Montezuma's Daughter |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: THOMAS HORNER, an armourer. PETER, his man.
Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Albans.
SIMPCOX, an impostor.
ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish gentleman.
JACK CADE, a rebel.
GEORGE BEVIS, JOHN HOLLAND, DICK the butcher,
SMITH the weaver, MICHAEL, etc., followers of Cade.
Two Murderers.
MARGARET, Queen to King Henry.
ELEANOR, Duchess of Gloster.
MARGARET JOURDAIN, a witch.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: to eat for the governor and me?"
"It is easy to say 'something to eat,' " whispered my mother,
numb with horror. "What have I time to get ready now? I am put to
shame in my old age!"
Mother clutched at her head and ran into the kitchen. The
governor's sudden visit stirred and overwhelmed the whole
household. A ferocious slaughter followed. A dozen fowls, five
turkeys, eight ducks, were killed, and in the fluster the old
gander, the progenitor of our whole flock of geese and a great
favourite of mother's, was beheaded. The coachmen and the cook
seemed frenzied, and slaughtered birds at random, without
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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 The Duchesse de Langeais by Honore de Balzac: argument for loving her, it is beyond cavil one of the great
inducements to the sentiment. Love would soon be convalescent,
as the eighteenth century moralist remarked, were it not for
vanity. And it is certainly true that for everyone, man or
woman, there is a wealth of pleasure in the superiority of the
beloved. Is she set so high by birth that a contemptuous glance
can never wound her? is she wealthy enough to surround herself
with state which falls nothing short of royalty, of kings, of
finance during their short reign of splendour? is she so
ready-witted that a keen-edged jest never brings her into
confusion? beautiful enough to rival any woman?--Is it such a
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