| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: public meetings, the excitements, the dinners and disputations,
and suddenly it appeared to me that none of these things existed.
It came to me like a discovery that none of these things existed.
Before and after I have thought and called life a phantasmagoria,
but never have I felt its truth as I did that night.... We had
parted; we two who had kept company so long had parted. But
there was, I knew, no end to him or me. He had died a dream
death, and ended a dream; his pain dream was over. It seemed to
me almost as though I had died, too. What did it matter, since
it was unreality, all of it, the pain and desire, the beginning
and the end? There was no reality except this solitary road,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: which have taken place concerning you in America and Europe.
You do not know that divers accidents, caused by collisions with your
submarine machine, have excited public feeling in the two continents.
I omit the theories without number by which it was sought
to explain that of which you alone possess the secret.
But you must understand that, in pursuing you over the high
seas of the Pacific, the Abraham Lincoln believed itself to be
chasing some powerful sea-monster, of which it was necessary
to rid the ocean at any price."
A half-smile curled the lips of the commander: then, in a calmer tone:
"M. Aronnax," he replied, "dare you affirm that your frigate
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: At this Mr. Powell who evidently could be rebellious too turned his
back squarely on the window.
"What on earth do you mean?" he asked. "An--accident--called Fyne,"
he repeated separating the words with emphasis.
Marlow was not disconcerted.
"I don't mean accident in the sense of a mishap. Not in the least.
Fyne was a good little man in the Civil Service. By accident I mean
that which happens blindly and without intelligent design. That's
generally the way a brother-in-law happens into a man's life."
Marlow's tone being apologetic and our new acquaintance having again
turned to the window I took it upon myself to say:
Chance |
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 Macbeth by William Shakespeare: No lesse to haue done so: Let me enfold thee,
And hold thee to my Heart
Banq. There if I grow,
The Haruest is your owne
King. My plenteous Ioyes,
Wanton in fulnesse, seeke to hide themselues
In drops of sorrow. Sonnes, Kinsmen, Thanes,
And you whose places are the nearest, know,
We will establish our Estate vpon
Our eldest, Malcolme, whom we name hereafter,
The Prince of Cumberland: which Honor must
Macbeth |
