The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Confidence by Henry James: his lunch; he was thinking of something else that lay before him and that
was not agreeable. He was like a man who has an acrobatic feat to perform--
a wide ditch to leap, a high pole to climb--and who has a presentiment
of fractures and bruises. Fortunately he was not obliged to talk much,
as Mrs. Gordon displayed even more than her usual vivacity, rendering her
companions the graceful service of lifting the burden of conversation from
their shoulders.
"I suppose you were surprised to see us rushing out here
so suddenly," she observed in the course of the repast.
"We had said nothing about it when you last saw us,
and I believe we are supposed to tell you everything,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Tanach: 2_Samuel 13: 31 Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
2_Samuel 13: 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said: 'Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
2_Samuel 13: 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.'
2_Samuel 13: 34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people in a roundabout way by the hill-side.
2_Samuel 13: 35 And Jonadab said unto the king: 'Behold, the king's sons are come; as thy servant said, so it is.'
2_Samuel 13: 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept; and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
2_Samuel 13: 37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
2_Samuel 13: 38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
2_Samuel 13: 39 And the soul of king David failed with longing for Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
 The Tanach |