| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: they had been a much more proper present to your Lordship.
I beg your Lordship will forgive me, if, at the same time I dedicate this
work to you, I join Lady Spencer, in the liberty I take of inscribing the
story of Le Fever to her name; for which I have no other motive, which my
heart has informed me of, but that the story is a humane one.
I am, My Lord, Your Lordship's most devoted and most humble Servant,
Laur. Sterne.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gent.
Chapter 3.I.
If it had not been for those two mettlesome tits, and that madcap of a
postillion who drove them from Stilton to Stamford, the thought had never
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: and science and progress, and devil knows what else. We want,'
he began to declaim suddenly, `for the guidance of the cause
intrusted to us by Europe, so to speak, higher intelligence,
wide sympathies, a singleness of purpose.' `Who says that?'
I asked. `Lots of them,' he replied. `Some even write that;
and so HE comes here, a special being, as you ought to know.'
`Why ought I to know?' I interrupted, really surprised.
He paid no attention. `Yes. Today he is chief of the best station,
next year he will be assistant-manager, two years more and . .
. but I dare-say you know what he will be in two years' time.
You are of the new gang--the gang of virtue. The same people
Heart of Darkness |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: should he wait for the Lotharian to overtake him or return
to meet him, the Torquasians would reach Thuvia of
Ptarth before he could do so.
Even as it was, it would be nip and tuck as to who
came first to her side.
Again he turned his face in her direction, and now,
from Aaanthor way, he saw a new force hastening
toward them--two medium-sized war craft--and even at
the distance they still were from him he discerned the
device of Dusar upon their bows.
Now, indeed, seemed little hope for Thuvia of Ptarth.
Thuvia, Maid of Mars |
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 Koran: eloquent of tongue than I; send him then with me as a support, to
verify me; verily, I fear that they will call me liar!'
Said He, 'We will strengthen thine arm with thy brother; and we will
make for you both authority, and they shall not reach you in our
signs; ye two and those who follow you shall gain the upper hand.'
And when Moses came to them with our manifest signs, they said,
'This is only sorcery devised; and we have not heard of this amongst
our fathers of yore.'
Moses said, 'My Lord knows best who comes with guidance from Him,
and whose shall be the issue of the abode. Verily, the unjust shall
not prosper!'
The Koran |
