| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Secret Places of the Heart by H. G. Wells: interest had evaporated from the west of England and left
only an urgent and embarrassing present.
But the loveliness of the weather did not fail, and the whole
day was set in Severn landscapes. They first saw the great
river like a sea with the Welsh mountains hanging in the sky
behind as they came over the Mendip crest above Shipham. They
saw it again as they crossed the hill before Clifton Bridge,
and so they continued, climbing to hill crests for views at
Alveston and near Dursley, and so to Gloucester and the
lowest bridge and thence back down stream again through fat
meadow lands at first and much apple-blossom and then over
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Maitre Cornelius by Honore de Balzac: majesty. Did I give you such a pretty wife to make her pale and
weakly? Go back to your own house, and make your preparations for a
long journey."
The king stopped at these words from a habit of cruelty; then he
added:--
"You will leave to-night to attend to my affairs with the government
of Venice. You need be under no anxiety about your wife; I shall take
charge of her at Plessis; she will certainly be safe here. Henceforth
I shall watch over her with greater care than I have done since I
married her to you."
Hearing these words, Marie silently pressed her father's arm as if to
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Under the Red Robe by Stanley Weyman: shoulders. France, power, pleasure, life, everything worth
winning, worth having, lay yonder in the great city. A boy might
wreck himself here for a fancy; a man of the world, never. When
I entered the room, where the two ladies stood waiting for me by
the table, I was nearly my old self again. And a chance word
presently completed the work.
'Clon made you understand, then?' the young woman said kindly,
as I took my seat.
'Yes, Mademoiselle,' I answered. On that I saw the two smile at
one another, and I added: 'He is a strange creature. I wonder
that you can bear to have him near you.'
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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 Battle of the Books by Jonathan Swift: man of distinguished vices, as to praise well a man of
distinguished virtues. It is easy enough to do either to people of
moderate characters.
Invention is the talent of youth, and judgment of age; so that our
judgment grows harder to please, when we have fewer things to offer
it: this goes through the whole commerce of life. When we are
old, our friends find it difficult to please us, and are less
concerned whether we be pleased or no.
No wise man ever wished to be younger.
An idle reason lessens the weight of the good ones you gave before.
The motives of the best actions will not bear too strict an
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