| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: a dull, gray light glimmered faintly. Myles pushed the door
farther open; it creaked and grated horribly on its rusty hinge,
and, as in instant answer to the discordant shriek, came a faint
piping squeaking, a rustling and a pattering of soft footsteps.
"The ghosts!" cried Gascoyne, in a quavering whisper, and for a
moment Myles felt the chill of goose-flesh creep up and down his
spine. But the next moment he laughed.
"Nay," said he, "they be rats. Look at yon fellow, Francis! Be'st
as big as Mother Joan's kitten. Give me that stone." He flung it
at the rat, and it flew clattering across the floor. There was
another pattering rustle of hundreds of feet, and then a
Men of Iron |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Enchanted Island of Yew by L. Frank Baum: good and loyal subjects, and if they fought against me--their lawful
High Ki--it was only because they were misled by my separation from my
other half."
"That is true," replied the prince; "and as you are still the lawful
High Ki of Twi, I will leave you to deal with your own people as you
see fit. For those who have conquered your people are but your own
allies, and are still under your orders, as I am myself."
Hearing this, the green High Ki walked up to her twin High Ki and
said, boldly:
"I am your prisoner. It is now your turn. Do with me as you will."
"I forgive you," replied her sister, in kindly tones.
The Enchanted Island of Yew |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: And I am nothing slow to slack his hast
Fri. You say you do not know the Ladies mind?
Vneuen is the course, I like it not
Pa. Immoderately she weepes for Tybalts death,
And therfore haue I little talke of Loue,
For Venus smiles not in a house of teares.
Now sir, her Father counts it dangerous
That she doth giue her sorrow so much sway:
And in his wisedome, hasts our marriage,
To stop the inundation of her teares,
Which too much minded by her selfe alone,
Romeo and Juliet |
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 The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "Don't you like Button-Bright, then?" asked the Lion in surprise.
"It isn't a question of liking him," replied the Mule. "It's a
question of watching him and looking after him. Any boy who causes
his friends so much worry isn't worth having around. I never get
lost."
"If you did," said Toto, "no one would worry a bit. I think
Button-Bright is a very lucky boy because he always gets found."
"See here," said the Lion, "this chatter is keeping us all awake, and
tomorrow is likely to be a busy day. Go to sleep and forget your
quarrels."
"Friend Lion," retorted the dog, "if I hadn't lost my growl, you would
The Lost Princess of Oz |
