| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs: became insanely jealous. I hated Baron Friedrich von Schoenvorts
with such utter intensity that the emotion thrilled me with a
species of exaltation.
But I didn't have much chance to enjoy my hatred then, for
almost immediately the lookout poked his face over the hatchway
and bawled down that there was smoke on the horizon, dead ahead.
Immediately I went on deck to investigate, and Bradley came with me.
"If she's friendly," he said, "we'll speak her. If she's not,
we'll sink her--eh, captain?"
"Yes, lieutenant," I replied, and it was his turn to smile.
We hoisted the Union Jack and remained on deck, asking Bradley
The Land that Time Forgot |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Lamentable Tragedy of Locrine and Mucedorus by William Shakespeare: To Graecia's Monarch noble Pandrassus.
There I alone did undertake your cause,
There I restored your antique liberty,
Though Graecia frowned, and all Mollossia stormed,
Though brave Antigonus, with martial band,
In pitched field encountered me and mine,
Though Pandrassus and his contributories,
With all the route of their confederates,
Sought to deface our glorious memory
And wipe the name of Trojans from the earth,
Him did I captivate with this mine arm,
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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 Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: a mist, and it was difficult to breathe. Stepping along the
passage, one had to look carefully for an empty space, and having
put down one foot had to find place for the other. Three persons,
who had evidently found no room even in the passage, lay in the
anteroom, close to the stinking and leaking tub. One of these was
an old idiot, whom Nekhludoff had often seen marching with the
gang; another was a boy about twelve; he lay between the two
other convicts, with his head on the leg of one of them.
When he had passed out of the gate Nekhludoff took a deep breath
and long continued to breathe in deep draughts of frosty air.
CHAPTER XIX.
Resurrection |
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 Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: "Yes; I want you to drive into Gimlet Butte and bring back a
person whom you'll find at the Elk House waiting for you. I had
rather you would go yourself, because I know you're reliable."
"Thank you, ma'am. How will I know him?"
"It's a woman--a spinster. She's coming to help Mrs. Winslow.
Inquire for Miss Darling. She isn't used to jolting two days in a
rig, but I know you will be careful of her."
"I'll surely be as careful of the old lady as if she was my own
mother."
The mistress of the ranch smothered a desire to laugh.
"I'm sure you will. At her age she may need a good deal of care.
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