| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: with brave assurances. Prior Edward accompanied him as far as the
head of the Tower stairs, where Myles kneeled upon the stone
steps, while the good priest blessed him and signed the cross
upon his forehead. The Prince was waiting in the walled garden
adjoining, and as they rowed back again up the river to Scotland
Yard, all were thoughtful and serious, even Poins' and Vere's
merry tongues being stilled from their usual quips and jesting.
It was. about the quarter of the hour before eleven o'clock when
Myles, with Gascoyne, set forth for the lists. The Prince of
Wales, together with most of his court, had already gone on to
Smithfield, leaving behind him six young knights of his household
Men of Iron |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Before Adam by Jack London: tree, and ever she eluded me, peeping back at me with
kindly eyes, making soft sounds, and dancing and
leaping and teetering before me just out of reach. The
more she eluded me, the more I wanted to catch her, and
the lengthening shadows of the afternoon bore witness
to the futility of my effort.
As I pursued her, or sometimes rested in an adjoining
tree and watched her, I noticed the change in her. She
was larger, heavier, more grown-up. Her lines were
rounder, her muscles fuller, and there was about her
that indefinite something of maturity that was new to
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Glasses by Henry James: had never expected to give her. It rolled over me there for the
first time--it has come back to me since--that there is,
wondrously, in very deep and even in very foolish misfortune a
dignity still finer than in the most inveterate habit of being all
right. I couldn't have to her the manner of treating it as a mere
detail that I was face to face with a part of what, at our last
meeting, we had had such a scene about; but while I was trying to
think of some manner that I COULD have she said quite colourlessly,
though somehow as if she might never see me again: "Good-bye. I'm
going to take my walk."
"All alone?"
|
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 Oedipus Trilogy by Sophocles: The man from whom I had thee may know more.
OEDIPUS
What, did another find me, not thyself?
MESSENGER
Not I; another shepherd gave thee me.
OEDIPUS
Who was he? Would'st thou know again the man?
MESSENGER
He passed indeed for one of Laius' house.
OEDIPUS
The king who ruled the country long ago?
Oedipus Trilogy |
