| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Divine Comedy (translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) by Dante Alighieri: One, while he prattles still, observes the fasts,
Who, when his tongue is loosed, forthwith devours
Whatever food under whatever moon;
Another, while he prattles, loves and listens
Unto his mother, who when speech is perfect
Forthwith desires to see her in her grave.
Even thus is swarthy made the skin so white
In its first aspect of the daughter fair
Of him who brings the morn, and leaves the night.
Thou, that it may not be a marvel to thee,
Think that on earth there is no one who governs;
The Divine Comedy (translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: which could be done only while the household slept;
and the probability that Mrs. Tilney yet lived, shut up
for causes unknown, and receiving from the pitiless
hands of her husband a nightly supply of coarse food,
was the conclusion which necessarily followed.
Shocking as was the idea, it was at least better than
a death unfairly hastened, as, in the natural course
of things, she must ere long be released. The suddenness
of her reputed illness, the absence of her daughter,
and probably of her other children, at the time--all favoured
the supposition of her imprisonment. Its origin--jealousy
Northanger Abbey |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from In the South Seas by Robert Louis Stevenson: school now. What was she doing here? - she lived here now. Why
so? - no answer but a deepening blush. There was no severity in
Brother Michel's manner; the girl's own confusion told her story.
'ELLE A HONTE,' was the missionary's comment, as we rode away.
Near by in the stream, a grown girl was bathing naked in a goyle
between two stepping-stones; and it amused me to see with what
alacrity and real alarm she bounded on her many-coloured under-
clothes. Even in these daughters of cannibals shame was eloquent.
It is in Hiva-oa, owing to the inveterate cannibalism of the
natives, that local beliefs have been most rudely trodden
underfoot. It was here that three religious chiefs were set under
|
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 Ivanhoe by Walter Scott: time this revel were broken off.''
``It must be by your management then, gallant
yeoman,'' said Ivanhoe; ``for each hint I have essayed
to give him serves only to induce him to prolong
it.''
``Must I so soon risk the pardon and favour of
my Sovereign?'' said Robin Hood, pausing for all
instant; ``but by Saint Christopher, it shall be so.
I were undeserving his grace did I not peril it for
his good.---Here, Scathlock, get thee behind yonder
thicket, and wind me a Norman blast on thy
Ivanhoe |
