| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Prufrock/Other Observations by T. S. Eliot: Matthew and Waldo, guardians of the faith,
The army of unalterable law."
Mr. Apollinax
When Mr. Apollinax visited the United States
His laughter tinkled among the teacups.
I thought of Fragilion, that shy figure among the birch-trees,
And of Priapus in the shrubbery
Gaping at the lady in the swing.
In the palace of Mrs. Phlaccus, at Professor Channing-Cheetah’s
He laughed like an irresponsible foetus.
Prufrock/Other Observations |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy: apparently slow wits there was a certain something, which he kept
hidden from all the world, and most especially from her.
A woman's heart is such a complex problem--the owner thereof
is often most incompetent to find the solution of this puzzle.
Did Marguerite Blakeney, "the cleverest woman in Europe,"
really love a fool? Was it love that she had felt for him a year ago
when she married him? Was it love she felt for him now that she
realised that he still loved her, but that he would not become her
slave, her passionate, ardent lover once again? Nay! Marguerite
herself could not have told that. Not at this moment at any rate;
perhaps her pride had sealed her mind against a better understanding
The Scarlet Pimpernel |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Vision Splendid by William MacLeod Raine: lot of beating. He's no quitter. Since I haven't the pleasure of
knowing Mr. Powers or Senator Frome, I think I'll back Farnum to
win."
"It's very plain you don't know Joe Powers. He always wins,"
contributed his daughter blandly.
"But Mr. Farnum is a remarkable man just the same," Alice added.
Then, with a little cry to cover her flushed embarrassment: "Here
he is. We do hope you're a little deaf, Mr. Farnum. We've been
talking about you."
"You may say anything you like about me, Miss Frome, except that
I'm not grateful for the lift aboard you gave me this afternoon,"
|
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 Kenilworth by Walter Scott: who has brought into thy house the very mammon thou worshippest."
"For God's sake," said Foster, "speak low--come into the house--
thou shalt have wine, or whatever thou wilt."
"No, old puckfoist, I will have it here," thundered the
inebriated ruffian--"here, AL FRESCO, as the Italian hath it. No,
no, I will not drink with that poisoning devil within doors, to
be choked with the fumes of arsenic and quick-silver; I learned
from villain Varney to beware of that."
"Fetch him wine, in the name of all the fiends!" said the
alchemist.
"Aha! and thou wouldst spice it for me, old Truepenny, wouldst
Kenilworth |
