| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson: cold as well as of drowning. The shores of Earraid were close
in; I could see in the moonlight the dots of heather and the
sparkling of the mica in the rocks.
"Well," thought I to myself, "if I cannot get as far as that,
it's strange!"
I had no skill of swimming, Essen Water being small in our
neighbourhood; but when I laid hold upon the yard with both arms,
and kicked out with both feet, I soon begun to find that I was
moving. Hard work it was, and mortally slow; but in about an
hour of kicking and splashing, I had got well in between the
points of a sandy bay surrounded by low hills.
Kidnapped |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: that dilapidation and even removal should be almost impossible.
With his torch he lit a miner's lamp which was fastened to the idol's
cap, and green, yellow, blue, violet, wine-coloured, and blood-
coloured fires suddenly illuminated the hall. It was filled with gems
which were either in gold calabashes fastened like sconces upon sheets
of brass, or were ranged in native masses at the foot of the wall.
There were callaides shot away from the mountains with slings,
carbuncles formed by the urine of the lynx, glossopetrae which had
fallen from the moon, tyanos, diamonds, sandastra, beryls, with the
three kinds of rubies, the four kinds of sapphires, and the twelve
kinds of emeralds. They gleamed like splashes of milk, blue icicles,
Salammbo |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Heart of the West by O. Henry: camp for."
He went up to Curly.
"Brother," he said, "don't you think if you had a bath it would allow
you to take a seat in the company of your fellow-man with less
injustice to the atmosphere."
"Run away, farmer," said Curly, sardonically. "Willie will send for
nursey when he feels like having his tub."
The /charco/, or water hole, was twelve yards away. Ranse took one of
Curly's ankles and dragged him like a sack of potatoes to the brink.
Then with the strength and sleight of a hammer-throw he hurled the
offending member of society far into the lake.
Heart of the West |
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 King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: GEORGE.
If so thou think'st, vex him with eager words.
RICHARD.
Clifford, ask mercy, and obtain no grace.
EDWARD.
Clifford, repent in bootless penitence.
WARWICK.
Clifford, devise excuses for thy faults.
GEORGE.
While we devise fell tortures for thy faults.
RICHARD.
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