| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: my heart sinks and my hand trembles at the bare thought of such a
possibility. Think of me at this hour, in a strange place,
labouring under a blackness of distress that no fancy can
exaggerate, and yet well aware that, if you will but punctually
serve me, my troubles will roll away like a story that is told.
Serve me, my dear Lanyon and save
"Your friend,
"H.J.
"P.S.--I had already sealed this up when a fresh terror
struck upon my soul. It is possible that the post-office may fail
me, and this letter not come into your hands until to-morrow
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: and your lamp being nearly exhausted, you will return
towards your own apartment. In repassing through the small
vaulted room, however, your eyes will be attracted towards
a large, old-fashioned cabinet of ebony and gold, which,
though narrowly examining the furniture before, you had
passed unnoticed. Impelled by an irresistible presentiment,
you will eagerly advance to it, unlock its folding doors,
and search into every drawer--but for some time without
discovering anything of importance--perhaps nothing
but a considerable hoard of diamonds. At last, however,
by touching a secret spring, an inner compartment will
Northanger Abbey |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson: surely bear the bell. Scarcely disembarked, he followed his
victor, with such wry face as we may fancy, through the
streets of holiday London. And then the doors closed upon
his last day of garish life for more than a quarter of a
century. After a boyhood passed in the dissipations of a
luxurious court or in the camp of war, his ears still stunned
and his cheeks still burning from his enemies' jubilations;
out of all this ringing of English bells and singing of
English anthems, from among all these shouting citizens in
scarlet cloaks, and beautiful virgins attired in white, he
passed into the silence and solitude of a political prison.
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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 King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: KING HENRY.
So would you be again to Henry
If he were seated as King Edward is.
1 KEEPER.
We charge you, in God's name and the king's
To go with us unto the officers.
KING HENRY.
In God's name lead; your king's name be obey'd;
And what God will, that let your king perform;
And what he will, I humbly yield unto.
[Exeunt.]
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