| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: from Providence that pride so sinful should be followed by as
severe a retribution. That tinge of the marvellous, which is
thrown over so many of these half-forgotten legends, has probably
imparted an additional wildness to the strange story of Lady
Eleanore Rochcliffe.
The ship in which she came passenger had arrived at Newport,
whence Lady Eleanore was conveyed to Boston in the Governor's
coach, attended by a small escort of gentlemen on horseback. The
ponderous equipage with its four black horses, attracted much
notice as it rumbled through Cornhill, surrounded by the prancing
steeds of half a dozen cavaliers, with swords dangling to their
Twice Told Tales |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The White Moll by Frank L. Packard: and before it seemed, even, that her brain would resume its normal
functions; but with the numbed horror once gone, there came in its
place, like some surging tide, a fierce virility that would not be
denied. The money! The old couple on that doorstep, stripped of
their all! Wasn't that one reason why she had gone on with Pinkie
Bonn and the Pug? Hadn't she seen a way, or at least a chance,
to get that money back?
Rhoda Gray looked quickly about her. On the corner ahead she saw
a drug store, and started briskly in that direction. Yes, there
was a way! The idea had first come to her from the Pug's remark
to Shluker that, after they had secured the money, Pinkie would
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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 Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: people. An' I'd like you to see jest how hard an' cruel this
border life is. It's bloody. You'd think churches an' churchmen
would make it better. They make it worse. You give names to
things--bishops, elders, ministers, Mormonism, duty, faith,
glory. You dream--or you're driven mad. I'm a man, an' I know. I
name fanatics, followers, blind women, oppressors, thieves,
ranchers, rustlers, riders. An' we have--what you've lived
through these last months. It can't be helped. But it can't last
always. An' remember his--some day the border'll be better,
cleaner, for the ways of ten like Lassiter!"
She saw him shake his tall form erect, look at her strangely and
Riders of the Purple Sage |
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 Phaedrus by Plato: that sort of thing but a regular piece of authorship?
PHAEDRUS: True.
SOCRATES: And if the law is finally approved, then the author leaves the
theatre in high delight; but if the law is rejected and he is done out of
his speech-making, and not thought good enough to write, then he and his
party are in mourning.
PHAEDRUS: Very true.
SOCRATES: So far are they from despising, or rather so highly do they
value the practice of writing.
PHAEDRUS: No doubt.
SOCRATES: And when the king or orator has the power, as Lycurgus or Solon
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