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: [Enter YORK, SALISBURY, and WARWICK.]
YORK.
Now, my good Lords of Salisbury and Warwick,
Our simple supper ended, give me leave
In this close walk to satisfy myself,
In craving your opinion of my title,
Which is infallible, to England's crown.
SALISBURY.
My lord, I long to hear it at full.
WARWICK.
Sweet York, begin; and if thy claim be good,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Travels with a Donkey in the Cevenne by Robert Louis Stevenson: had made with his own two hands within the space of a year, came to
a corner, and showed us some white buildings a little farther on
beyond the wood. At the same time, the bell once more sounded
abroad. We were hard upon the monastery. Father Apollinaris (for
that was my companion's name) stopped me.
'I must not speak to you down there,' he said. 'Ask for the
Brother Porter, and all will be well. But try to see me as you go
out again through the wood, where I may speak to you. I am charmed
to have made your acquaintance.'
And then suddenly raising his arms, flapping his fingers, and
crying out twice, 'I must not speak, I must not speak!' he ran away
|
The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Door in the Wall, et. al. by H. G. Wells: the works under their proper dramatic conditions. It's odd how I
could have forgotten."
"If I am troubling you--" began Raut.
Horrocks started again. A new light had suddenly come into
the sultry gloom of his eyes. "Not in the least," he said.
"Have you been telling Mr. Raut of all these contrasts of
flame and shadow you think so splendid?" said the woman, turning
now to her husband for the first time, her confidence creeping back
again, her voice just one half-note too high. "That dreadful
theory of yours that machinery is beautiful, and everything else in
the world ugly. I thought he would not spare you, Mr. Raut. It's
|
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 Pierrette by Honore de Balzac: she met a man to whom the idea that she could marry did not seem
absurd.
"Madame Vinet is right," cried Rogron; "perhaps teaching would keep
Pierrette quiet. A master wouldn't cost much."
The colonel's remark so preoccupied Sylvie that she made no answer to
her brother.
"If you are willing to be security for that opposition journal I was
talking to you about," said Vinet, "you will find an excellent master
for the little cousin in the managing editor; we intend to engage that
poor schoolmaster who lost his employment through the encroachments of
the clergy. My wife is right; Pierrette is a rough diamond that wants
|