| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: for a nobleman. And our work as noblemen isn't done here at the
elections, but yonder, each in our corner. There's a class
instinct, too, of what one ought and oughtn't to do. There's the
peasants, too, I wonder at them sometimes; any good peasant tries
to take all the land he can. However bad the land is, he'll work
it. Without a return too. At a simple loss."
"Just as we do," said Levin. "Very, very glad to have met you,"
he added, seeing Sviazhsky approaching him.
"And here we've met for the first time since we met at your
place," said the landowner to Sviazhsky, "and we've had a good
talk too."
Anna Karenina |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: jamb.
"It's Aunt Ponderevo," cried my uncle. "George's wife--and she's
brought over her son!" His eye roamed about the room. He darted
to the bureau with a sudden impulse, and turned the sheet about
the patent flat face down. Then he waved his glasses at us, "You
know, Susan, my elder brother George. I told you about 'im lots
of times."
He fretted across to the hearthrug and took up a position there,
replaced his glasses and coughed.
My aunt Susan seemed to be taking it in. She was then rather a
pretty slender woman of twenty-three or four, I suppose, and I
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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 Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll: in for the beach; and I would have gone down to see them land their
cargo of fish, had not the microcosm at my feet stirred my curiosity
yet more keenly.
One ancient crab, that was for ever shuffling frantically from side to
side of the pool, had particularly fascinated me: there was a vacancy
in its stare, and an aimless violence in its behaviour, that
irresistibly recalled the Gardener who had befriended Sylvie and Bruno:
and, as I gazed, I caught the concluding notes of the tune of his crazy
song.
The silence that followed was broken by the sweet voice of Sylvie.
"Would you please let us out into the road?"
Sylvie and Bruno |
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 Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson: In uttermost obedience to the King.
But wilt thou yield this damsel harbourage?'
Whereat the Baron saying, 'I well believe
You be of Arthur's Table,' a light laugh
Broke from Lynette, 'Ay, truly of a truth,
And in a sort, being Arthur's kitchen-knave!--
But deem not I accept thee aught the more,
Scullion, for running sharply with thy spit
Down on a rout of craven foresters.
A thresher with his flail had scattered them.
Nay--for thou smellest of the kitchen still.
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