| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: tone of careless indifference, did ye do it, that he doubted of his
commission--
'--There must certainly be some mistake in this matter,' quoth he.
Now there is nothing in this world I abominate worse, than to be
interrupted in a story--and I was that moment telling Eugenius a most
tawdry one in my way, of a nun who fancied herself a shell-fish, and of a
monk damn'd for eating a muscle, and was shewing him the grounds and
justice of the procedure--
'--Did ever so grave a personage get into so vile a scrape?' quoth Death.
Thou hast had a narrow escape, Tristram, said Eugenius, taking hold of my
hand as I finished my story--
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: So defend thyself, I say."
Then up leaped merry Robin and snatched up his staff also.
"Take my money, if thou canst," quoth he. "I promise
freely to give thee every farthing if thou dost touch me."
And he twirled his staff in his fingers till it whistled again.
Then the Beggar swung his staff also, and struck a mighty blow
at Robin, which the yeoman turned. Three blows the Beggar struck,
yet never one touched so much as a hair of Robin's head.
Then stout Robin saw his chance, and, ere you could count three,
Riccon's staff was over the hedge, and Riccon himself lay
upon the green grass with no more motion than you could find
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Elizabeth and her German Garden by Marie Annette Beauchamp: "And never rise till lunch-time?"
Irais blushed. Although I don't approve of such conduct,
it is very convenient in more ways <170> than one;
I get through my housekeeping undisturbed, and whenever she
is disposed to lecture me, I begin about this habit of hers.
Her conscience must be terribly stricken on the point,
for she is by no means as a rule given to meekness.
"A woman without vanity would be unattackable," resumed the Man
of Wrath. "When a girl enters that downward path that leads to ruin,
she is led solely by her own vanity; for in these days of policemen
no young woman can be forced against her will from the path
Elizabeth and her German Garden |
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 Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: 1882.
MY DEAR MOTHER, - Your delightful letters duly arrived this
morning. They were the only good feature of the day, which was not
a success. Fanny was in bed - she begged I would not split upon
her, she felt so guilty; but as I believe she is better this
evening, and has a good chance to be right again in a day or two, I
will disregard her orders. I do not go back, but do not go forward
- or not much. It is, in one way, miserable - for I can do no
work; a very little wood-cutting, the newspapers, and a note about
every two days to write, completely exhausts my surplus energy;
even Patience I have to cultivate with parsimony. I see, if I
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