| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: and the soundlessness of cats we dropped together into the
main cabin of the submarine. Even here was no sign of life.
Quickly we covered and secured the hatch.
Then the boy stepped into the pilot house, touched a button
and the boat sank amid swirling waters toward the bottom
of the shaft. Even then there was no scurrying of feet as
we had expected, and while the boy remained to direct the
boat I slid from cabin to cabin in futile search for some
member of the crew. The craft was entirely deserted.
Such good fortune seemed almost unbelievable.
When I returned to the pilot house to report the good
The Gods of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Princess of Parms by Edgar Rice Burroughs: had I descended to bombast, but I had guessed at the keynote
which would strike an answering chord in the breasts of the
green Martians, nor was I wrong, for my harangue evidently
deeply impressed them, and their attitude toward me
thereafter was still further respectful.
Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply, but his
only comment was more or less enigmatical-- "And I think I
know Tal Hajus, Jeddak of Thark."
I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris, and assisting
her to her feet I turned with her toward the exit, ignoring
her hovering guardian harpies as well as the inquiring
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw: of us. Therefore I hope she'll stay to dinner, and not insist on
flying away in that aeroplane.
PERCIVAL. You must stay, Miss Szczepanowska. I cant go up again this
evening.
LINA. Ive seen you work it. Do you think I require any help? And
Bentley shall come with me as a passenger.
BENTLEY. _[terrified]_ Go up in an aeroplane! I darent.
LINA. You must learn to dare.
BENTLEY. _[pale but heroic]_ All right. I'll come.
LORD SUMMERHAYS| No, no, Bentley, impossible. I
| shall not allow 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 The Country Doctor by Honore de Balzac: worthy priest; he advised me to take my little rascal away on the
score of his health," he told the doctor.
"Well," answered Benassis, with a clear, penetrating gaze into
Adrien's frightened eyes, "there is a good chance. Oh, we shall make a
man of him yet. We will live together like a pair of comrades, my boy!
We will keep early hours. I mean to show this boy of yours how to ride
a horse, commandant. He shall be put on a milk diet for a month or
two, so as to get his digestion into order again, and then I will take
out a shooting license for him, and put him in Butifer's hands, and
the two of them shall have some chamois-hunting. Give your son four or
five months of out-door life, and you will not know him again,
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