| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: The smell of mud, of primeval mud, by Jove! was in my nostrils,
the high stillness of primeval forest was before my eyes;
there were shiny patches on the black creek.
The moon had spread over everything a thin layer of silver--
over the rank grass, over the mud, upon the wall of matted
vegetation standing higher than the wall of a temple,
over the great river I could see through a sombre gap glittering,
glittering, as it flowed broadly by without a murmur.
All this was great, expectant, mute, while the man jabbered
about himself. I wondered whether the stillness on the face
of the immensity looking at us two were meant as an appeal
Heart of Darkness |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Somebody's Little Girl by Martha Young: likeness.''
Another lady with her said: ``Wonderful!''
And another one with them said: ``Impossible! But strange indeed--''
Bessie Bell did not notice what the ladies said, but because they
looked so attentively to where she sat on the stone bench her
attention was turned the way their eyes turned as they talked in low
tones and looked attentively passing by.
So when they had passed by, Bessie Bell turned and looked to the
other end of the bench where the lady sat.
Bessie Bell was so surprised at the first look that she hardly knew
what to think.
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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 Desert Gold by Zane Grey: "Reckon me an' Jim might as well tie up with your for a spell,
Beldin'. We've been ridin' up an' down Arizona tryin' to keep out
of sight of wire fences."
"Laddy, it's open enough around Forlorn River to satisfy even an
old-time cowpuncher like you," laughed Belding. "I'd take your
staying on as some favor, don't mistake me. Perhaps I can persuade
the young man Gale to take a job with me."
"That's shore likely. He said he had no money, no friends. An'
if a scrapper's all you're lookin' for he'll do," replied Ladd, with
a dry chuckle.
"Mrs. B. will throw some broncho capers round this ranch when
Desert Gold |
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 Gambara by Honore de Balzac: just heard."
"Of whom, then, can I ask it?" cried the Count, in whom passion was
blinding his wits.
"Of yourself," replied Marianna. "Either you understand me by this
time, or you never will. Try to ask yourself."
"I will, but you must listen. And this hand, which I am holding, is to
lie in mine as long as my narrative is truthful."
"I am listening," said Marianna.
"A woman's life begins with her first passion," said Andrea. "And my
dear Marianna began to live only on the day when she first saw Paolo
Gambara. She needed some deep passion to feed upon, and, above all,
Gambara |
