| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Works of Samuel Johnson by Samuel Johnson: WICKED; who informs them, that the train which
wealth and beauty draw after them, is lured only
by the scent of prey; and that, perhaps, among all
those who crowd about them with professions and
flatteries, there is not one who does not hope for
some opportunity to devour or betray them, to glut
himself by their destruction, or to share their spoils
with a stronger savage.
Virtue presented singly to the imagination or the
reason, is so well recommended by its own graces,
and so strongly supported by arguments, that a
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from When the Sleeper Wakes by H. G. Wells: danger here. We have spies. We learned but just
in time. The Council has decided--this very day--
either to drug or kill you. And everything is ready.
The people are drilled, the wind-vane police, the engineers,
and half the way-gearers are with us. We have
the halls crowded--shouting. The whole city shouts
against the Council. We have arms." He wiped the
blood with his hand. "Your life here is not worth--"
"But why arms? "
"The people have risen to protect you, Sire.
What? "
When the Sleeper Wakes |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Astoria by Washington Irving: southeast, and was so well beaten by horse and foot, that they
supposed at least a hundred lodges had passed along it. As it
formed, therefore, a convenient highway, and ran in a proper
direction, they turned into it, and determined to keep along it
as far as safety would permit: as the Crow encampment must be
some distance off, and it was not likely those savages would
return upon their steps. They travelled forward, therefore, all
that day, in the track of their dangerous predecessors, which led
them across mountain streams, and long ridges, and through narrow
valleys, all tending generally towards the southeast. The wind
blew coldly from the northeast, with occasional flurries of snow,
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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 Silverado Squatters by Robert Louis Stevenson: driver's huge, impassive, fleshy countenance. He has the
very face for the driver in Sam Weller's anecdote, who upset
the election party at the required point. Wonderful tales
are current of his readiness and skill. One in particular,
of how one of his horses fell at a ticklish passage of the
road, and how Foss let slip the reins, and, driving over the
fallen animal, arrived at the next stage with only three.
This I relate as I heard it, without guarantee.
I only saw Foss once, though, strange as it may sound, I have
twice talked with him. He lives out of Calistoga, at a
ranche called Fossville. One evening, after he was long gone
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