| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Bunner Sisters by Edith Wharton: Hawkins always brought Arthur or the baby, so that there should be
something to talk about, and some one whom she could scold.
The autumn came, and the winter. Business had fallen off
again, and but few purchasers came to the little shop in the
basement. In January Ann Eliza pawned her mother's cashmere scarf,
her mosaic brooch, and the rosewood what-not on which the clock had
always stood; she would have sold the bedstead too, but for the
persistent vision of Evelina returning weak and weary, and not
knowing where to lay her head.
The winter passed in its turn, and March reappeared with its
galaxies of yellow jonquils at the windy street corners, reminding
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Collection of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter: Pickles, "let us close the shop."
They put up the shutters, and
left. But they have not removed
from the neighbourhood. In fact
some people wish they had gone
further.
Ginger is living in the warren. I
do not know what occupation he
pursues; he looks stout and
comfortable.
Pickles is at present a gamekeeper.
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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 Finished by H. Rider Haggard: him and what he imagined, I do not know, but I may as well state
the results at once. Within a few days there appeared in one of
the Natal papers and, for aught I know, all over the earth, an
announcement that Mr. Allan Quatermain, a well-known hunter in
Zululand, after many adventures, had escaped from that country,
"together with his favourite native wife, the only survivor of
his extensive domestic establishment." Then followed some wild
details as to the murder of my other wives by a Zulu wizard
called "Road Mender, or Sick Ass" (i.e. Opener of Roads, or
Zikali), and so on.
I was furious and interviewed the editor, a mild and apologetic
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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 Macbeth by William Shakespeare: Till Birnane Forrest come to Dunsinane
Doct. Were I from Dunsinane away, and cleere,
Profit againe should hardly draw me heere.
Exeunt.
Scena Quarta.
Drum and Colours. Enter Malcolme, Seyward, Macduffe,
Seywards Sonne,
Menteth, Cathnes, Angus, and Soldiers Marching.
Malc. Cosins, I hope the dayes are neere at hand
That Chambers will be safe
Ment. We doubt it nothing
Macbeth |
