| 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: JACK. What?
MERRIMAN. Mr. Ernest's luggage, sir. I have unpacked it and put
it in the room next to your own.
JACK. His luggage?
MERRIMAN. Yes, sir. Three portmanteaus, a dressing-case, two hat-
boxes, and a large luncheon-basket.
ALGERNON. I am afraid I can't stay more than a week this time.
JACK. Merriman, order the dog-cart at once. Mr. Ernest has been
suddenly called back to town.
MERRIMAN. Yes, sir. [Goes back into the house.]
ALGERNON. What a fearful liar you are, Jack. I have not been
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson: "Here," said Mr. Thomson, "is a novel ready to your hand: all you
have to do is to work up the scenery, develop the characters, and
improve the style."
"My dear fellow," said I, "they are just the three things that I
would rather die than set my hand to. It shall be published as it
stands."
"But it's so bald," objected Mr. Thomson.
"I believe there is nothing so noble as baldness," replied I, "and
I am sure there in nothing so interesting. I would have all
literature bald, and all authors (if you like) but one."
"Well, well," add Mr. Thomson, "we shall see."
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: the street, desire thus to show respect to miscreants?[13] And as to
gifts, it is notorious, people commonly bestow them largely upon those
they hate, and that too when their fears are gravest, hoping to avert
impending evil. Nay, these are nothing more nor less than acts of
slavery, and they may fairly be set down as such.
[12] Or, "the compliance of cold lips where love is not reciprocated
is . . ."
[13] Or, "to rank injustice."
But honours have a very different origin,[14] as different to my mind
as are the sentiments to which they give expression. See how, for
instance, men of common mould will single out a man, who is a man,[15]
|
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 An Unsocial Socialist by George Bernard Shaw: happened to drive it into the shrubbery, whence, to the surprise
of the company, Smilash presently emerged, carrying the ball,
blinking, and proclaiming that, though a common man, he had his
feelings like another, and that his eye was neither a stick nor a
stone. He was dressed as before, but his garments, soiled with
clay and lime, no longer looked new.
"What brings you here, pray?" demanded Miss Wilson.
"I was led into the belief that you sent for me, lady," he
replied. "The baker's lad told me so as he passed my 'umble cot
this morning. I thought he were incapable of deceit."
"That is quite right; I did send for you. But why did you not go
|
