| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: irremediable air of defeat to what might have been else claimed for
a moderate success. The blue-jackets numbered a hundred and forty
all told; they were engaged separately and fought under the worst
conditions, in the dark and among woods; their position in the
house was scarce tenable; they lost in killed and wounded fifty-
six, - forty per cent.; and their spirit to the end was above
question. Whether we think of the poor sailor lads, always so
pleasantly behaved in times of peace, or whether we call to mind
the behaviour of the two civilians, Haideln and Hufnagel, we can
only regret that brave men should stand to be exposed upon so poor
a quarrel, or lives cast away upon an enterprise so hopeless.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
Yet call the ambassadors; and, as you please,
So let them have their answers every one:
I shall be well content with any choice
Tends to God's glory and my country's weal.
[Enter Winchester in Cardinal's habit, a Legate
and two Ambassadors.]
EXETER.
What! is my Lord of Winchester install'd
And call'd unto a cardinal's degree?
Then I perceive that will be verified
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy: "That's right. Well now, can't you give yourself half an hour's relaxation,
Mrs. Fawley, and come along with us? 'Twould do you good."
"I should like to go," said she. "I've never seen the boat-racing, and I
hear it is good fun."
"Come along!"
"How I WISH I could!" She looked longingly down the street.
"Wait a minute, then. I'll just run up and see how he is now.
Father is with him, I believe; so I can most likely come."
They waited, and she entered. Downstairs the inmates were
absent as before, having, in fact, gone in a body to the river
where the procession of boats was to pass. When she reached
Jude the Obscure |
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 Battle of the Books by Jonathan Swift: unknown in the world; I have set my name at length, to be a mark of
infamy to mankind, if they shall find I deceive them.
In one thing I must desire to be forgiven, that I talk more
sparingly of home affairs. As it will be imprudence to discover
secrets of State, so it would be dangerous to my person; but in
smaller matters, and that are not of public consequence, I shall be
very free; and the truth of my conjectures will as much appear from
those as the others. As for the most signal events abroad, in
France, Flanders, Italy, and Spain, I shall make no scruple to
predict them in plain terms. Some of them are of importance, and I
hope I shall seldom mistake the day they will happen; therefore I
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