| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Awakening & Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin: "Time doesn't concern me. Your question seems a little rude.
Play the Impromptu."
"But you have told me nothing of yourself. What are you doing?"
"Painting!" laughed Edna. "I am becoming an artist. Think of it!"
"Ah! an artist! You have pretensions, Madame."
"Why pretensions? Do you think I could not become an artist?"
"I do not know you well enough to say. I do not know your
talent or your temperament. To be an artist includes much;
one must possess many gifts--absolute gifts--which have not
been acquired by one's own effort. And, moreover, to succeed, the
artist must possess the courageous soul."
Awakening & Selected Short Stories |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: another. Had I not taken it from La you would have
slain me and now your god must be glad that I took it
since I have saved his priestess from love-mad Tantor.
Will you go back to Opar with La, promising that no
harm shall befall her?"
The priests gathered together in a little knot arguing
and discussing. They pounded upon their breasts with
their fists; they raised their hands and eyes to their
fiery god; they growled and barked among themselves
until it became evident to Tarzan that one of their
number was preventing the acceptance of his proposal.
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: not pay by a present, however generous, the happiness that it had
received, however short that happiness had been.
That is what I said to myself all night long, and what I was
every moment prepared to go and say to Marguerite. When the day
dawned I was still sleepless. I was in a fever. I could think of
nothing but Marguerite.
As you can imagine, it was time to take a decided step, and
finish either with the woman or with one's scruples, if, that is,
she would still be willing to see me. But you know well, one is
always slow in taking a decided step; so, unable to remain within
doors and not daring to call on Marguerite, I made one attempt in
Camille |
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 Historical Lecturers and Essays by Charles Kingsley: "Rough-hewn, slovenly, and rude," says Peacham, in his "Compleat
Gentleman," speaking of him, probably, as he appeared in old age,
"in his person, behaviour, and fashion; seldom caring for a better
outside than a rugge-gown girt close about him: yet his inside and
conceipt in poesie was most rich, and his sweetness and facilitie in
verse most excellent." A typical Lowland Scot, as I said just now,
he seems to have absorbed all the best culture which France could
afford him, without losing the strength, honesty, and humour which
he inherited from his Stirlingshire kindred.
The story of his life is easily traced. When an old man, he himself
wrote down the main events of it, at the request of his friends; and
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