| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Adam Bede by George Eliot: "he'd better not ha' stirred a kettle o' sour broth." The bucolic
mind does not readily apprehend the refinements of good taste.
But the toast could not be rejected and when it had been drunk,
Arthur said, "I thank you, both for my grandfather and myself; and
now there is one more thing I wish to tell you, that you may share
my pleasure about it, as I hope and believe you will. I think
there can be no man here who has not a respect, and some of you, I
am sure, have a very high regard, for my friend Adam Bede. It is
well known to every one in this neighbourhood that there is no man
whose word can be more depended on than his; that whatever he
undertakes to do, he does well, and is as careful for the
Adam Bede |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: "O, Lord bless my soul! I done forgot, Missis! I won't say
nothing of de sort no more."
"Why, Sam, you just _have_ said it again."
"Did I? O, Lord! I mean--I didn't go fur to say it."
"You must be _careful_, Sam."
"Just let me get my breath, Missis, and I'll start fair.
I'll be bery careful."
"Well, Sam, you are to go with Mr. Haley, to show him the
road, and help him. Be careful of the horses, Sam; you know
Jerry was a little lame last week; _don't ride them too fast_."
Mrs. Shelby spoke the last words with a low voice, and
Uncle Tom's Cabin |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The King of the Golden River by John Ruskin: "Impossible, sir," said Gluck.
"I'm very hungry," continued the old gentleman. "I've had
nothing to eat yesterday nor to-day. They surely couldn't miss a
bit from the knuckle!"
He spoke in so very melancholy a tone that it quite melted
Gluck's heart. "They promised me one slice to-day, sir," said
he; "I can give you that, but not a bit more."
"That's a good boy," said the old gentleman again.
Then Gluck warmed a plate and sharpened a knife. "I don't
care if I do get beaten for it," thought he. Just as he had cut
a large slice out of the mutton there came a tremendous rap at the
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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 Rewards and Fairies by Rudyard Kipling: climbed into the van, and the horses drew it out of the deep-rutted
shaw on to the hard road.
The girl waved her hands and shouted something they could
not catch.
'That was gipsy for "Thank you kindly, Brother and Sister,"'
said Pharaoh Lee.
He was standing behind them, his fiddle under his arm.
'Gracious, you startled me!' said Una.
'You startled old Priscilla Savile,' Puck called from below them.
'Come and sit by their fire. She ought to have put it out before
they left.'
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