| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: of the year 543? All this is incontestable. I abhor psalm-singers,
I hate priors, I execrate heretics, but I should detest yet more
any one who should maintain the contrary. One has only to read
Arnoul Wion, Gabriel Bucelin, Trithemus, Maurolics, and Dom Luc
d'Achery."
The prioress took breath, then turned to Fauchelevent.
"Is it settled, Father Fauvent?"
"It is settled, reverend Mother."
"We may depend on you?"
"I will obey."
"That is well."
Les Miserables |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: "Where else?
"At the town-head."
"Where else?"
"Why, the fellow is turned lawyer! Above Freshwater."
"Where is Freshwater?"
"Why, where the water-fall comes over the cliff, half-a-mile from
the town. There is a path there up into the forest."
"I know. I'll watch there to-night. Do you keep all your old
haunts safe, of course, and send a couple of stout knaves to the
mill, to watch the beach at the Deer Park End, on the chance; for
your poet may be a true man, after all. But my heart's faith is,
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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 The Mountains by Stewart Edward White: outlandish and picturesque vocations by which a
man can make a living. He weighed two hundred
and twelve pounds and was the best game shot with
a rifle I ever saw.
As you may imagine, Old Slob was a stocky
individual. He was built from the ground up. His
disposition was quiet, slow, honest. Above all, he
gave the impression of vast, very vast experience.
Never did he hurry his mental processes, although
he was quick enough in his movements if need arose.
He quite declined to worry about anything. Consequently,
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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 In the South Seas by Robert Louis Stevenson: this baffling archipelago; and it required all my instances - and
all Mr. Otis's private taste for adventure - to deflect our course
across its midst.
For a few days we sailed with a steady trade, and a steady westerly
current setting us to leeward; and toward sundown of the seventh it
was supposed we should have sighted Takaroa, one of Cook's so-
called King George Islands. The sun set; yet a while longer the
old moon - semi-brilliant herself, and with a silver belly, which
was her successor - sailed among gathering clouds; she, too,
deserted us; stars of every degree of sheen, and clouds of every
variety of form disputed the sub-lustrous night; and still we gazed
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