| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Was this the creature who had supplanted him in the heart of
his Meriem? Was this a man, who trembled when Numa coughed?
How could such as he protect Meriem from the countless dangers
of the jungle? Ah, but he would not have to. They would live
in the safety of European civilization, where men in uniforms
were hired to protect them. What need had a European of
prowess to protect his mate? Again the sneer curled Korak's lip.
Hanson and his boy had ridden directly to the clearing. It was
already dark when they arrived. Leaving the boy there Hanson rode
to the edge of the plain, leading the boy's horse. There he waited.
It was nine o'clock before he saw a solitary figure galloping
The Son of Tarzan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: with a perfectly colourless quietness.
"What's going on in that river you've just come out of?" asked the
lieutenant straight away.
"I know nothing of the troubles, if you mean that," Jasper
answered. "I've landed there half a cargo of rice, for which I got
nothing in exchange, and went away. There's no trade there now,
but they would have been starving in another week - if I hadn't
turned up."
"Meddling! English meddling! And suppose the rascals don't
deserve anything better than to starve, eh?"
"There are women and children there, you know," observed Jasper, in
'Twixt Land & Sea |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories by Mark Twain: sure it wasn't in me half a minute before. I seem to know just
by the shape of the creature and the way it acts what animal
it is.
When the dodo came along he thought it was a wildcat--I saw it
in his eye. But I saved him. And I was careful not to do it
in a way that could hurt his pride. I just spoke up in a quite
natural way of pleasing surprise, and not as if I was dreaming
of conveying information, and said, "Well, I do declare, if there
isn't the dodo!" I explained--without seeming to be explaining--
how I know it for a dodo, and although I thought maybe he was
a little piqued that I knew the creature when he didn't, it was
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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 Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare: At this Adonis smiles as in disdain,
That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple:
Love made those hollows, if himself were slain,
He might be buried in a tomb so simple; 244
Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie,
Why, there Love liv'd, and there he could not die.
These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits,
Open'd their mouths to swallow Venus' liking. 248
Being mad before, how doth she now for wits?
Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking?
Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn,
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