| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: was but a continuation of that unaccountable coldness which she
had often observed at Norland in their mutual behaviour.
On Edward's side, more particularly, there was a deficiency
of all that a lover ought to look and say on such an occasion.
He was confused, seemed scarcely sensible of pleasure
in seeing them, looked neither rapturous nor gay,
said little but what was forced from him by questions,
and distinguished Elinor by no mark of affection.
Marianne saw and listened with increasing surprise.
She began almost to feel a dislike of Edward; and it ended,
as every feeling must end with her, by carrying back her
Sense and Sensibility |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche: with longing in my heart did I come.
But how did it turn out with me? Although so alarmed--I had yet to laugh!
Never did mine eye see anything so motley-coloured!
I laughed and laughed, while my foot still trembled, and my heart as well.
"Here forsooth, is the home of all the paintpots,"--said I.
With fifty patches painted on faces and limbs--so sat ye there to mine
astonishment, ye present-day men!
And with fifty mirrors around you, which flattered your play of colours,
and repeated it!
Verily, ye could wear no better masks, ye present-day men, than your own
faces! Who could--RECOGNISE you!
Thus Spake Zarathustra |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: reached the break in the sage, he sent the burro down ahead of
him, and started an avalanche that all but buried the animal at
the bottom of the trail. Bruised and battered as he was, he had a
moment's elation, for he had hidden his tracks. Once more he
mounted the burro and rode on. The hour was the blackest of the
night when he made the thicket which inclosed his old camp. Here
he turned the burro loose in the grass near the spring, and then
lay down on his old bed of leaves.
He felt only vaguely, as outside things, the ache and burn and
throb of the muscles of his body. But a dammed-up torrent of
emotion at last burst its bounds, and the hour that saw his
Riders of the Purple Sage |
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 Herodias by Gustave Flaubert: table on the left of the proconsul sat Marcellus with the publicans,
several friends of the tetrarch, and various representatives from
Cana, Ptolemais, and Jericho. Seated at other tables were mountaineers
from Liban and many of the old soldiers of Herod's army; a dozen
Thracians, a Greek and two Germans; besides huntsmen and herdsmen, the
Sultan of Palmyra, and sailors from Eziongaber. Before each guest was
placed a roll of soft bread, upon which to wipe the fingers. As soon
as they were seated, hands were stretched out with the eagerness of a
vulture's claws, seizing upon olives, pistachios, and almonds. Every
face was joyous, every head was crowned with flowers, except those of
the Pharisees, who refused to wear the wreaths, regarding them as a
Herodias |
