| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Europeans by Henry James: She had but a limited confidence in her brother's judgment;
his capacity for taking rose-colored views was such as to
vulgarize one of the prettiest of tints. Still, she supposed
he could be trusted to give her the mere facts; and she invited
him with some eagerness to communicate them. "I suppose,
at least, they did n't turn you out from the door;" she said.
"You have been away some ten hours."
"Turn me from the door!" Felix exclaimed. "They took me to their hearts;
they killed the fatted calf."
"I know what you want to say: they are a collection of angels."
"Exactly," said Felix. "They are a collection of angels--simply."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Persuasion by Jane Austen: perhaps herself--I was no longer at my own disposal. I was hers in honour
if she wished it. I had been unguarded. I had not thought seriously
on this subject before. I had not considered that my excessive intimacy
must have its danger of ill consequence in many ways; and that I had
no right to be trying whether I could attach myself to either of the girls,
at the risk of raising even an unpleasant report, were there no other
ill effects. I had been grossly wrong, and must abide the consequences."
He found too late, in short, that he had entangled himself;
and that precisely as he became fully satisfied of his not caring
for Louisa at all, he must regard himself as bound to her,
if her sentiments for him were what the Harvilles supposed.
Persuasion |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Plutarch's Lives by A. H. Clough: interstices and breaches in the Macedonian phalanx; as it usually happens
in all great armies, according to the different efforts of the
combatants, who in one part press forward with eagerness, and in another
are forced to fall back. Taking, therefore, this occasion, with all
speed he broke up his men into their cohorts, and gave them order to fall
into the intervals and openings of the enemy's body, and not to make one
general attack upon them all, but to engage, as they were divided, in
several partial battles. These commands Aemilius gave to his captains,
and they to their soldiers; and no sooner had they entered the spaces and
separated their enemies, but they charged them, some on their side where
they were naked and exposed, and others, making a circuit, behind; and
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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 An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde: MRS. CHEVELEY. A woman whose size in gloves is seven and three-
quarters never knows much about anything. You know Gertrude has
always worn seven and three-quarters? That is one of the reasons why
there was never any moral sympathy between us. . . . Well, Arthur, I
suppose this romantic interview may be regarded as at an end. You
admit it was romantic, don't you? For the privilege of being your
wife I was ready to surrender a great prize, the climax of my
diplomatic career. You decline. Very well. If Sir Robert doesn't
uphold my Argentine scheme, I expose him. VOILE TOUT.
LORD GORING. You mustn't do that. It would be vile, horrible,
infamous.
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