| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: to be swayed here and there by the capricious tempests of passion
and desire; a look that enwraps the whole body, and that
penetrates into the innermost recesses of the being, bringing
terrible defeat in the delirious uplifting of accomplished
conquest. It has the same meaning for the man of the forests and
the sea as for the man threading the paths of the more dangerous
wilderness of houses and streets. Men that had felt in their
breasts the awful exultation such a look awakens become mere
things of to-day--which is paradise; forget yesterday--which was
suffering; care not for to-morrow--which may be perdition. They
wish to live under that look for ever. It is the look of woman's
 Almayer's Folly |
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 The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: weighed in his hand the slender treasure, and said in a
sorrowful voice, "And is this a' that's left?"
"All that is left at present," said the Master, affecting more
cheerfulness than perhaps he really felt, "is just the green
purse and the wee pickle gowd, as the old song says; but we shall
do better one day, Caleb."
"Before that day domes," said Caleb, "I doubt there will be an
end of an auld sang, and an auld serving-man to boot. But it
disna become me to speak that gate to your honour, adn you
looking sae pale. Tak back the purse, and keep it to be making a
show before company; for if your honour would just take a
 The Bride of Lammermoor |