| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: presence was a relief to Emilia, for who knew but Mr. Lambert
himself might end in growing sentimental?
Yet she did not find him always equally tedious. Their drives
had some variety. For instance, he sometimes gave her some
lovely present before they set forth, and she could feel that,
if his lips did not yield diamonds and rubies, his pockets did.
Sometimes he conversed about money and investments, which she
rather liked; this was his strong and commanding point; he
explained things quite clearly, and they found, with mutual
surprise, that she also had a shrewd little brain for those
matters, if she would but take the trouble to think about them.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: seemed of quality and in the prime of life, was very plain and
soldierlike, his stature low, his limbs stout, his bearing
ungraceful, and his features of that kind which express sound
common sense, without a grain of vivacity or imagination. The
younger, who seemed about twenty, or upwards, was clad in the
gayest habit used by persons of quality at the period, wearing a
crimson velvet cloak richly ornamented with lace and embroidery,
with a bonnet of the same, encircled with a gold chain turned
three times round it, and secured by a medal. His hair was
adjusted very nearly like that of some fine gentlemen of our own
time--that is, it was combed upwards, and made to stand as it
Kenilworth |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The War in the Air by H. G. Wells: of atmospheric Jiu-Jitsu. He drew his blanket closer about him,
clutching with one straining hand. He found himself tossing in a
wet twilight, with nothing to be seen but mist pouring past him.
Above him the airship was warm with lights and busy with the
movements of men going to their quarters. Then abruptly the
lights went out, and the Vaterland with bounds and twists and
strange writhings was fighting her way up the air.
He had a glimpse, as the Vaterland rolled over, of some large
buildings burning close below them, a quivering acanthus of
flames, and then he saw indistinctly through the driving weather
another airship wallowing along like a porpoise, and also working
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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 Waste Land by T. S. Eliot: Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.
V. WHAT THE THUNDER SAID
AFTER the torchlight red on sweaty faces
After the frosty silence in the gardens
After the agony in stony places
The shouting and the crying
Prison and place and reverberation
Of thunder of spring over distant mountains
He who was living is now dead
We who were living are now dying
With a little patience 330
The Waste Land |
