| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: It was necessary, therefore, to get the start of the Usbeck
horsemen on the Irkutsk road, and put the Obi between
himself and them. But to do that, he must escape before
the camp was broken up.
His determination taken, Michael prepared to execute it.
Indeed, the halt would not be prolonged, and the pendja-
baschi did not intend to give his men more than an hour's
rest, although their horses could not have been changed
for fresh ones since Omsk, and must be as much fatigued
as that of Michael Strogoff.
There was not a moment to lose. It was within an hour
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: storm. The tempest struck her in the stern as with a mailed fist
and stood the great ship upon her nose, and then it caught her
and spun her as a child's top spins; and upon the palace roof the
twelve men looked on in silent helplessness and prayed for the
souls of the brave warriors who were going to their death. And
others saw, from Helium's lofty landing stages and from a
thousand hangars upon a thousand roofs; but only for an instant
did the preparations stop that would send other brave men into
the frightful maelstrom of that apparently hopeless search, for
such is the courage of the warriors of Barsoom.
But the Vanator did not fall to the ground, within sight of the
The Chessmen of Mars |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: with questions, complaints, or thanks; they are alike odious to
me."
"It is a' gowd, by Heaven!" said Elliot, having glanced at the
contents; and then again addressing the Hermit, "Muckle obliged
for your goodwill; and I wad blithely gie you a bond for some o'
the siller, or a wadset ower the lands o' Wideopen. But I dinna
ken, Elshie; to be free wi' you, I dinna like to use siller
unless I kend it was decently come by; and maybe it might turn
into sclate-stanes, and cheat some poor man."
"Ignorant idiot!" retorted the Dwarf; "the trash is as genuine
poison as ever was dug out of the bowels of the earth. Take it
|
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 Common Sense by Thomas Paine: and abandoned court of Britain, unless I say, ye can shew this,
how can ye on the ground of your principles, justify the exciting
and stirring up the people "firmly to unite in the abhorrence
of all such writings, and measures, as evidence a desire and design
to break off the happy connexion we have hitherto enjoyed,
with the kingdom of Great-Britain, and our just and necessary subordination
to the king, and those who are lawfully placed in authority under him."
What a slap of the face is here! the men, who in the very paragraph before,
have quietly and passively resigned up the ordering, altering,
and disposal of kings and governments, into the hands of God, are now,
recalling their principles, and putting in for a share of the business.
Common Sense |
