| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Time Machine by H. G. Wells: safer resting-place; I thought that with my matches and my
camphor I could contrive to keep my path illuminated through the
woods. Yet it was evident that if I was to flourish matches with
my hands I should have to abandon my firewood; so, rather
reluctantly, I put it down. And then it came into my head that I
would amaze our friends behind by lighting it. I was to discover
the atrocious folly of this proceeding, but it came to my mind as
an ingenious move for covering our retreat.
`I don't know if you have ever thought what a rare thing flame
must be in the absence of man and in a temperate climate. The
sun's heat is rarely strong enough to burn, even when it is
The Time Machine |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Pupil by Henry James: It was interrupted at last by the appearance of his mother at the
end of the sala. She beckoned him to come to her, and while
Pemberton saw him, complaisant, pass down the long vista and over
the damp false marble, he wondered what was in the air. Mrs.
Moreen said a word to the boy and made him go into the room she had
quitted. Then, having closed the door after him, she directed her
steps swiftly to Pemberton. There was something in the air, but
his wildest flight of fancy wouldn't have suggested what it proved
to be. She signified that she had made a pretext to get Morgan out
of the way, and then she enquired - without hesitation - if the
young man could favour her with the loan of three louis. While,
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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 Unconscious Comedians by Honore de Balzac: fringed with black lashes, had lost their innocence and showed great
weariness; her face, of a pretty shape, was fresh and her hair
abundant, her forehead charming but audacious, her bust thin,--in
other words, an unripe fruit.
"That," replied Bixiou, "is a rat tied to its mother."
"A rat!--what's that?"
"That particular rat," said Leon, with a friendly nod to Mademoiselle
Ninette, "may perhaps win your suit for you."
Gazonal bounded; but Bixiou had held him by the arm ever since they
left the cafe, thinking perhaps that the flush on his face was rather
vivid.
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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 Heroes by Charles Kingsley: house of Polydectes.
Grinding his teeth with rage, he went out, and away to the
king's palace, and through the men's rooms, and the women's
rooms, and so through all the house (for no one dared stop
him, so terrible and fair was he), till he found his mother
sitting on the floor, turning the stone hand-mill, and
weeping as she turned it. And he lifted her up, and kissed
her, and bade her follow him forth. But before they could
pass out of the room Polydectes came in, raging. And when
Perseus saw him, he flew upon him as the mastiff flies on the
boar. 'Villain and tyrant!' he cried; 'is this your respect
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