| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: [Enter JACK with a hand-bag of black leather in his hand.]
JACK. [Rushing over to MISS PRISM.] Is this the handbag, Miss
Prism? Examine it carefully before you speak. The happiness of
more than one life depends on your answer.
MISS PRISM. [Calmly.] It seems to be mine. Yes, here is the
injury it received through the upsetting of a Gower Street omnibus
in younger and happier days. Here is the stain on the lining
caused by the explosion of a temperance beverage, an incident that
occurred at Leamington. And here, on the lock, are my initials. I
had forgotten that in an extravagant mood I had had them placed
there. The bag is undoubtedly mine. I am delighted to have it so
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: that of a female figure.
"It is she!" cried Francine.
Mademoiselle de Verneuil seemed to be standing, as if resigned, in the
midst of other figures, whose gestures denoted a debate.
"There are several," said the captain. "Well, no matter, let us go to
them."
"You will get yourself killed uselessly," said Francine.
"I have been killed once before to-day," he said gaily.
They both walked towards the gloomy gateway which led to the causeway;
there Francine suddenly stopped short.
"No," she said, gently, "I'll go no farther; Pierre told me not to
The Chouans |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: about in it the threat,-haply they may fear, or it may cause them to
remember.
Exalted then be God, the king, the truth! Hasten not the Koran
before its inspiration is decided for thee; but say, 'O Lord! increase
me in knowledge.'
We did make a covenant with Adam of yore, but he forgot it, and we
found no firm purpose in him.
And when we said to the angels, 'Adore Adam,' they adored, save
Iblis, who refused. And we said, 'O Adam! verily, this is a foe to
thee and to thy wife; never then let him drive you twain forth from
the garden or thou wilt be wretched. Verily, thou hast not to be
The Koran |
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 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: intention.
She expressed pleasure, too, at finding a sister among her new
acquaintance; and she prattled to Catherine, and kissed her, and
ran about with her, and gave her quantities of presents, at the
beginning. Her affection tired very soon, however, and when she
grew peevish, Hindley became tyrannical. A few words from her,
evincing a dislike to Heathcliff, were enough to rouse in him all
his old hatred of the boy. He drove him from their company to the
servants, deprived him of the instructions of the curate, and
insisted that he should labour out of doors instead; compelling him
to do so as hard as any other lad on the farm.
Wuthering Heights |
