| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Nada the Lily by H. Rider Haggard: sleep, summoned before him certain women of the kraal, to the number
of a hundred or more. Some of these were his women, whom he named his
"sisters," and some were maidens not yet given in marriage; but all
were young and fair. Now what this dream of Chaka may have been I do
not know, or have forgotten, for in those days he dreamed many dreams,
and all his dreams led to one end, the death of men. He sat in front
of his hut scowling, and I was with him. To the left of him were
gathered the girls and women, and their knees were weak with fear. One
by one they were led before him, and stood before him with bowed
heads. Then he would bid them be of good cheer, and speak softly to
them, and in the end would ask them this question: "Hast thou, my
Nada the Lily |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: Friday described the boat to me well enough; but brought me better
to understand him when he added with some warmth, "We save the
white mans from drown." Then I presently asked if there were any
white mans, as he called them, in the boat. "Yes," he said; "the
boat full of white mans." I asked him how many. He told upon his
fingers seventeen. I asked him then what became of them. He told
me, "They live, they dwell at my nation."
This put new thoughts into my head; for I presently imagined that
these might be the men belonging to the ship that was cast away in
the sight of my island, as I now called it; and who, after the ship
was struck on the rock, and they saw her inevitably lost, had saved
Robinson Crusoe |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy: out a cigarette. "I'm not going to say anything
unpleasant, Michael. I only wanted to say some-
thing about Lisochka."
Michael Ivanovich sighed--the word pained
him; but mastering himself at once, he answered
with a tired smile. "Our conversation can only
be on one subject, and that is the subject you wish
to discuss " He spoke without looking at her,
and avoided even naming the subject. But his
plump, pretty little sister-in-law was unabashed.
She continued to regard him with the same gentle,
The Forged Coupon |
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 Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw: explosion, and placidly ready for her night's rest].
VIVIE. I believe it is I who will not be able to sleep now.
[She goes to the dresser and lights the candle. Then she
extinguishes the lamp, darkening the room a good deal]. Better
let in some fresh air before locking up. [She opens the cottage
door, and finds that it is broad moonlight]. What a beautiful
night! Look! [She draws the curtains of the window. The
landscape is seen bathed in the radiance of the harvest moon
rising over Blackdown].
MRS WARREN [with a perfunctory glance at the scene] Yes, dear;
but take care you dont catch your death of cold from the night
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