| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare: But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;
Lilies that fester, smell far worse than weeds.
XCV
How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame
Which, like a canker in the fragrant rose,
Doth spot the beauty of thy budding name!
O! in what sweets dost thou thy sins enclose.
That tongue that tells the story of thy days,
Making lascivious comments on thy sport,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: more angry and irritable feelings of poor Hobbie. Ere he had
again addressed the Solitary, the bony hand and long fingers of
the latter, holding a large leathern bag, was thrust forth at the
small window, and as it unclutched the burden, and let it drop
with a clang upon the ground, his harsh voice again addressed
Elliot.
"There--there lies a salve for every human ill; so, at least,
each human wretch readily thinks.--Begone; return twice as
wealthy as thou wert before yesterday, and torment me no more
with questions, complaints, or thanks; they are alike odious to
me."
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