| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: figures that were lying in the shade of a maple tree. One he recognized as the
Indian with whom Jim had spent an earnest hour that morning; the red son of
the woods was wrapped in slumber. He had placed under his head a many-hued
homespun shirt which the young preacher had given him; but while asleep his
head had rolled off this improvised pillow, and the bright garment lay free,
attracting the eye. Certainly it had led to the train of thought which had
found lodgment in Joe's fertile brain.
The other sleeper was a short, stout man whom Joe had seen several times
before. This last fellow did not appear to be well-balanced in his mind, and
was the butt of the settlers' jokes, while the children called him "Loorey."
He, like the Indian, was sleeping off the effects of the previous night's
The Spirit of the Border |
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 Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy: removed. Though the moon was not bright as yet there were
no lamps lighted, and he entered the shadow of one of the
projecting jambs which formed the thoroughfare to Bull
Stake; here he watched Lucetta's door.
Candle-lights were flitting in and out of her bedroom, and
it was obvious that she was dressing for the appointment,
whatever the nature of that might be at such an hour. The
lights disappeared, the clock struck nine, and almost at the
moment Farfrae came round the opposite corner and knocked.
That she had been waiting just inside for him was certain,
for she instantly opened the door herself. They went
The Mayor of Casterbridge |
