| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: daffodil-coloured curtains were draped back from each window.
"It looks cheerful, doesn't it?" he said.
"Yes, and the inside is still more cheery. One of the
pleasantest houses of the season, so I have heard. I haven't
been there myself, but I've met several men who have, and they
tell me it's uncommonly jovial."
"Whose house is it?"
"A Mrs. Beaumont's."
"And who is she?"
"I couldn't tell you. I have heard she comes from
South America, but after all, who she is is of little
The Great God Pan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dracula by Bram Stoker: She stopped and wanted to insist upon my taking my shoes, but I would not.
However, when we got to the pathway outside the chruchyard, where there
was a puddle of water, remaining from the storm, I daubed my feet with mud,
using each foot in turn on the other, so that as we went home, no one,
in case we should meet any one, should notice my bare feet.
Fortune favoured us, and we got home without meeting a soul. Once we saw
a man, who seemed not quite sober, passing along a street in front of us.
But we hid in a door till he had disappeared up an opening such as there
are here, steep little closes, or `wynds', as they call them in Scotland.
My heart beat so loud all the time sometimes I thought I should faint.
I was filled with anxiety about Lucy, not only for her health,
Dracula |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Salome by Oscar Wilde: HERODE. Je n'ai donne aucun ordre de le tuer.
SECOND SOLDAT. Il s'est tue lui-meme, Seigneur.
HERODE. Pourquoi? Je l'ai fait capitaine!
SECOND SOLDAT. Nous ne savons pas, Seigneur. Mais il s'est tue
lui-meme.
HERODE. Cela me semble etrange. Je pensais qu'il n'y avait que les
philosophes romains qui se tuaient. N'est-ce pas, Tigellin, que les
philosophes e Rome se tuent?
TIGELLIN. Il y en a qui se tuent, Seigneur. Ce sont les Stoiciens.
Ce sont de gens tres grossiers. Enfin, ce sont des gens tres
ridicules. Moi, je les trouve tres ridicules.
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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: devised this charming piece of coquetry? At any rate, she looked
up mischievously as the clock struck twelve.
"Ah! you have made me too late for the ball!" she exclaimed,
surprised and vexed that she had forgotten how time was going.
The next moment she approved the exchange of pleasures with a
smile that made Armand's heart give a sudden leap.
"I certainly promised Mme de Beauseant," she added. "They are
all expecting me."
"Very well--go."
"No--go on. I will stay. Your Eastern adventures fascinate me.
Tell me the whole story of your life. I love to share in a brave
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