| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: and we charge and command that their wives be as free as
heart can wish or tongue can tell.
DICK.
My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside, and take up
commodities upon our bills?
CADE.
Marry, presently.
ALL.
O, brave!
[Re-enter one with the heads.]
CADE.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Hellenica by Xenophon: Thrace, and there spent the winter; nor did Pharnabazus exhibit a
shadow of annoyance, since the Bithynians were perpetually at war with
himself. For the most part, Dercylidas continued to harry[1] Bithynia
in perfect security, and found provisions without stint. Presently he
was joined from the other side of the straits by some Odrysian allies
sent by Seuthes;[2] they numbered two hundred horse and three hundred
peltasts. These fellows pitched upon a site a little more than a
couple of miles[3] from the Hellenic force, where they entrenched
themselves; then having got from Dercylidas some heavy infantry
soldiers to act as guards of their encampment, they devoted themselves
to plundering, and succeeded in capturing an ample store of slaves and
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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 Astoria by Washington Irving: did not think it prudent to take them with him. fearing the levy
of "black mail" at the falls.
On their way down, when below the forks of the Columbia, they
were hailed one day from the shore in English. Looking around,
they descried two wretched men, entirely naked. They pulled to
shore; the men came up and made themselves known. They proved to
be Mr. Crooks and his faithful follower, John Day.
The reader will recollect that Mr. Crooks, with Day and four
Canadians, had been so reduced by famine and fatigue, that Mr.
Hunt was obliged to leave them, in the month of December, on the
banks of the Snake River. Their situation was the more critical,
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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 Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells: your man pointed ears?"
"Damn!" he said, over his first mouthful of food. He stared at me
for a moment, and then repeated, "Pointed ears?"
"Little points to them," said I, as calmly as possible, with a catch
in my breath; "and a fine black fur at the edges?"
He helped himself to whiskey and water with great deliberation.
"I was under the impression--that his hair covered his ears."
"I saw them as he stooped by me to put that coffee you sent to me
on the table. And his eyes shine in the dark."
By this time Montgomery had recovered from the surprise of my question.
"I always thought," he said deliberately, with a certain
The Island of Doctor Moreau |
