| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: He steered with no end of a swagger while you were by; but if he lost
sight of you, he became instantly the prey of an abject funk,
and would let that cripple of a steamboat get the upper hand of him
in a minute.
"I was looking down at the sounding-pole, and feeling
much annoyed to see at each try a little more of it stick
out of that river, when I saw my poleman give up on
the business suddenly, and stretch himself flat on the deck,
without even taking the trouble to haul his pole in.
He kept hold on it though, and it trailed in the water.
At the same time the fireman, whom I could also see below me,
Heart of Darkness |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: offered no resistance; the elephants were soon in the centre of the
plain. They lacked space; they thronged half-rearing together, and
their tusks clashed against one another. Suddenly Narr' Havas quieted
them, and wheeling round they trotted back to the hills.
Two syntagmata, however, had taken refuge on the right in a bend of
ground, had thrown away their arms, and were all kneeling with their
faces towards the Punic tents imploring mercy with uplifted arms.
Their legs and hands were tied; then when they were stretched on the
ground beside one another the elephants were brought back.
Their breasts cracked like boxes being forced; two were crushed at
every step; the big feet sank into the bodies with a motion of the
Salammbo |
