| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: suspicion. But the Cardinal, who thought this caution ridiculous, was
determined to, at least, take apart the flock bedstead. The passion of
the search gave extraordinary vigilance to her senses, and as she
raised the wooden side-frame she heard the fall of some tiny object on
the floor. Seizing the light she began to search in the mound of filth
of all kinds that was under the bed, and finally laid her hand on a
bit of polished steel about half an inch long, the use of which was to
her inexplicable.
"That's a key!" cried Cerizet, who was standing beside her with some
indifference, but whose imagination now set off at a gallop.
"Ha! ha! you see I was right," cried the Cardinal. "But what can it
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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 Waste Land by T. S. Eliot: The hot water at ten.
And if it rains, a closed car at four.
And we shall play a game of chess,
Pressing lidless eyes and waiting for a knock upon the door.
When Lil's husband got demobbed, I said --
I didn't mince my words, I said to her myself, 140
HURRY UP PLEASE IT'S TIME
Now Albert's coming back, make yourself a bit smart.
He'll want to know what you done with that money he gave you
To get yourself some teeth. He did, I was there.
You have them all out, Lil, and get a nice set,
The Waste Land |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Enchanted Island of Yew by L. Frank Baum: dressed in rich satins, velvets and brocades, brilliantly ornamented
with gold and precious stones. The men were of many shapes and
sizes--giants and dwarfs being among them. The women all seemed young
and beautiful.
Prince Marvel cast but a passing glance at this assemblage, for his
eye quickly sought the rude throne on which was seated King Terribus.
The personal appearance of this monster was doubtless the most hideous
known in that age of the world. His head was large and shaped like an
egg; it was bright scarlet in color and no hair whatever grew upon it.
It had three eyes--one in the center of his face, one on the top of
his head and one in the back. Thus he was always able to see in every
The Enchanted Island of Yew |
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 Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: lived in our old house for many
a long day, and never knew that a great treasure of silver and
gold was hidden beneath it, until a few days ago there came an
angel and burned it down over our heads, and in the morning we
found the treasure. So now we are rich for as long as we may
live."
The next morning the poor servant jogged along on his homeward
way more sad and downcast than ever, and by evening he had come
to the robbers' den in the thick woods, and there the old woman
came running to the door to meet him. "Come in!" cried she; "come
in and welcome! The robbers are all dead and gone now, and I use
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