| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Coxon Fund by Henry James: that itself was an inconsistency. George Gravener could stand
straight enough before any other combination of forces. It amused
me to think that the combination he had succumbed to had an
American accent, a transcendental aunt and an insolvent father; but
all my old loyalty to him mustered to meet this unexpected hint
that I could help him. I saw that I could from the insincere tone
in which he pursued: "I've criticised her of course, I've
contended with her, and it has been great fun." Yet it clearly
couldn't have been such great fun as to make it improper for me
presently to ask if Miss Anvoy had nothing at all settled on
herself. To this he replied that she had only a trifle from her
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Shadow Line by Joseph Conrad: without argument. Mr. Burns, losing all restraint,
put his face close to his captain's and fairly
yelled: "You, sir, are going out of the world. But
I can't wait till you are dead before I put the helm
up. You must do it yourself. You must do it
now!"
The man on the couch snarled in contempt.
"So I am going out of the world--am I?"
"Yes, sir--you haven't many days left in it,"
said Mr. Burns calming down. "One can see it by
your face."
The Shadow Line |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Talisman by Walter Scott: his faithful attendant ventured sometimes, in the phrase of
romance, "to disturb his thoughts," and awaken him from his
reverie, by thrusting his large rough snout into the knight's
gauntleted hand, to solicit a transitory caress.
Thus passed two hours of the knight's watch without anything
remarkable occurring. At length, and upon a sudden, the gallant
staghound bayed furiously, and seemed about to dash forward where
the shadow lay the darkest, yet waited, as if in the slips, till
he should know the pleasure of his master.
"Who goes there?" said Sir Kenneth, aware that there was
something creeping forward on the shadowy side of the mount.
|
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 She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: MARLOW. (Aside.) Egad, she has hit it, sure enough! (To her.) In
awe of her, child? Ha! ha! ha! A mere awkward squinting thing; no,
no. I find you don't know me. I laughed and rallied her a little; but
I was unwilling to be too severe. No, I could not be too severe, curse
me!
MISS HARDCASTLE. O! then, sir, you are a favourite, I find, among the
ladies?
MARLOW. Yes, my dear, a great favourite. And yet hang me, I don't see
what they find in me to follow. At the Ladies' Club in town I'm called
their agreeable Rattle. Rattle, child, is not my real name, but one
I'm known by. My name is Solomons; Mr. Solomons, my dear, at your
She Stoops to Conquer |
