| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: It seemed like old times again, and made me feel quite gay.
This gentleman took a great liking to me, and after trying me
several times with the saddle he prevailed upon my master to sell me
to a friend of his, who wanted a safe, pleasant horse for riding.
And so it came to pass that in the summer I was sold to Mr. Barry.
30 A Thief
My new master was an unmarried man. He lived at Bath, and was much engaged
in business. His doctor advised him to take horse exercise,
and for this purpose he bought me. He hired a stable a short distance
from his lodgings, and engaged a man named Filcher as groom.
My master knew very little about horses, but he treated me well,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, etc. by Oscar Wilde: wonderful amazon, and had once raced old Lord Bilton on her pony
twice round the park, winning by a length and a half, just in front
of the Achilles statue, to the huge delight of the young Duke of
Cheshire, who proposed for her on the spot, and was sent back to
Eton that very night by his guardians, in floods of tears. After
Virginia came the twins, who were usually called 'The Stars and
Stripes,' as they were always getting swished. They were
delightful boys, and with the exception of the worthy Minister the
only true republicans of the family.
As Canterville Chase is seven miles from Ascot, the nearest railway
station, Mr. Otis had telegraphed for a waggonette to meet them,
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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 Dracula by Bram Stoker: but I felt it all the more, like unshed tears.
CHAPTER 11
LUCY WESTENRA'S DIARY
12 September.--How good they all are to me. I quite love that dear
Dr. Van Helsing. I wonder why he was so anxious about these flowers.
He positively frightened me, he was so fierce. And yet he must
have been right, for I feel comfort from them already. Somehow, I do
not dread being alone tonight, and I can go to sleep without fear.
I shall not mind any flapping outside the window. Oh, the terrible
struggle that I have had against sleep so often of late, the pain
of sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep, and with such
Dracula |
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 Dream Life and Real Life by Olive Schreiner: pulling off her little gloves unconsciously.
"You know Mr.--" (she mentioned the name of a well-known writer): "I know
you meet him often in your work. I want you to do something for me!"
The woman on the hearth-rug looked down at her.
"I couldn't tell my father or my mother, or any one else; but I can tell
you, though I know so little of you. You know, last summer he came and
stayed with us a month. I saw a great deal of him. I don't know if he
liked me; I know he liked my singing, and we rode together--I liked him
more than any man I have ever seen. Oh, you know it isn't true that a
woman can only like a man when he likes her; and I thought, perhaps, he
liked me a little. Since we have been in town we have asked, but he has
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