| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Little Rivers by Henry van Dyke: strongly to my mind. It was possible to stand upon the forward
deck and do a little trout-fishing in motion. By watching your
chance, when the corner of a good pool was within easy reach, you
could send out a hasty line and cajole a sea-trout from his hiding-
place. It is true that the tow-ropes and the post made the back
cast a little awkward; and the wind sometimes blew the flies up on
the roof of the cabin; but then, with patience and a short line the
thing could be done. I remember a pair of good trout that rose
together just as we were going through a boiling rapid; and it
tried the strength of my split-bamboo rod to bring those fish to
the net against the current and the motion of the boat.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Amy Foster by Joseph Conrad: side, I said again that he ought to be in bed up-
stairs. She wrung her hands. 'I couldn't. I
couldn't. He keeps on saying something--I don't
know what.' With the memory of all the talk
against the man that had been dinned into her ears,
I looked at her narrowly. I looked into her short-
sighted eyes, at her dumb eyes that once in her life
had seen an enticing shape, but seemed, staring at
me, to see nothing at all now. But I saw she was
uneasy.
"'What's the matter with him?' she asked in a
Amy Foster |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey: met. He was in turn a cowboy, a rancher, a cattleman, a stock-
buyer, a boomer, a land-hunter; and long before he reached the
wild and inhospitable Ord he had acted the part of an outlaw,
drifting into new territory. He passed on leisurely because he
wanted to learn the lay of the country, the location of
villages and ranches, the work, habit, gossip, pleasures, and
fears of the people with whom he came in contact. The one
subject most impelling to him--outlaws--he never mentioned; but
by talking all around it, sifting the old ranch and cattle
story, he acquired a knowledge calculated to aid his plot. In
this game time was of no moment; if necessary he would take
The Lone Star Ranger |
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: Where are you there? Sir John! nay, fear not, man,
We are alone; here's none but thee and I.
[Enter HUME.]
HUME.
Jesus preserve your royal majesty!
DUCHESS.
What say'st thou? majesty! I am but grace.
HUME.
But, by the grace of God, and Hume's advice,
Your grace's title shall be multiplied.
DUCHESS.
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