| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Aspern Papers by Henry James: much about curiosities?"
"About curiosities?"
"About antiquities, the old gimcracks that people pay so much for today.
Do you know the kind of price they bring?"
I thought I saw what was coming, but I said ingenuously,
"Do you want to buy something?"
"No, I want to sell. What would an amateur give me for that?"
She unfolded the white paper and made a motion for me to take from
her a small oval portrait. I possessed myself of it with a hand
of which I could only hope that she did not perceive the tremor,
and she added, "I would part with it only for a good price."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde: DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Dear girl! She is so fond of photographs of
Switzerland. Such a pure taste, I think. But I really am so sorry
for you, Margaret
LADY WINDERMERE. [Smiling.] Why, Duchess?
DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Oh, on account of that horrid woman. She
dresses so well, too, which makes it much worse, sets such a
dreadful example. Augustus - you know my disreputable brother -
such a trial to us all - well, Augustus is completely infatuated
about her. It is quite scandalous, for she is absolutely
inadmissible into society. Many a woman has a past, but I am told
that she has at least a dozen, and that they all fit.
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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 Cromwell by William Shakespeare: It is not worth such thanks. Come to my house;
Your want shall better be relieved then thus.
CROMWELL.
I pray, excuse me; this shall well suffice
To bear my charges to Bononia,
Whereas a noble Earl is much distressed:
An Englishman, Russell, the Earl of Bedford,
Is by the French King sold unto his death:
It may fall out, that I may do him good;
To save his life, I'll hazard my heart blood.
Therefore, kind sir, thanks for your liberal gift;
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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 Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: there will not be a soul that I shall know. If it were not that
I shall get a higher place, and be able to help my mother better,
I don't think I should have made up my mind to it; it is a real pinch, John."
"Ay, James, lad, so it is; but I should not think much of you
if you could leave your home for the first time and not feel it. Cheer up,
you'll make friends there; and if you get on well, as I am sure you will,
it will be a fine thing for your mother, and she will be proud enough
that you have got into such a good place as that."
So John cheered him up, but every one was sorry to lose James;
as for Merrylegs, he pined after him for several days, and went quite off
his appetite. So John took him out several mornings with a leading rein,
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