| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde: and they wandered out into the rain.
Then he flew back and told the Prince what he had seen.
"I am covered with fine gold," said the Prince, "you must take it
off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor; the living always think
that gold can make them happy."
Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, till the
Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the
fine gold he brought to the poor, and the children's faces grew
rosier, and they laughed and played games in the street. "We have
bread now!" they cried.
Then the snow came, and after the snow came the frost. The streets
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: arrow lodged close beside the stranger's. Then after a short
space they all three shot again, and once more each arrow lodged
within the clout, but this time Adam o' the Dell's was farthest
from the center, and again the tattered stranger's shot was
the best. Then, after another time of rest, they all shot for
the third time. This time Gilbert took great heed to his aim,
keenly measuring the distance and shooting with shrewdest care.
Straight flew the arrow, and all shouted till the very flags
that waved in the breeze shook with the sound, and the rooks
and daws flew clamoring about the roofs of the old gray tower,
for the shaft had lodged close beside the spot that marked
 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |