| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Collection of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter: Alexander.
But presently they made it up
again, and trotted away together,
singing--
"Tom, Tom, the piper's son, stole a pig
and away he ran!
"But all the tune that he could play,
was 'Over the hills and far away!' "
"What's that, young sirs? Stole
a pig? Where are your licences?"
said the policeman. They had
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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 Europeans by Henry James: "I don't know how many days it is."
"You are tired of it," said Acton.
She leaned back in her chair; her arms were folded.
"That is a terrible accusation, but I have not the courage
to defend myself."
"I am not attacking you," said Acton. "I expected something
of this kind."
"It 's a proof of extreme intelligence. I hope you enjoyed your journey."
"Not at all," Acton declared. "I would much rather have been
here with you."
"Now you are attacking me," said the Baroness. "You are contrasting
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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 The Koran: gates; but I cannot avail you aught against God. Judgment is only
God's; upon Him do I rely, and on Him do the reliant rely.'
And when they had entered as their father bade them, it availed them
nothing against God, save for a want in Jacob's soul which it
fulfilled; for, verily, he was possessed of knowledge, for that we had
taught him;- but most men do not know.
And when they entered in unto Joseph, he took his brother to stay
with him, and said, 'Verily, I am thy brother- then take not ill
that which they have been doing.'
And when he had equipped them with their equipment he placed the
drinking cup in his brother's pack; then a crier cried out, 'O ye
The Koran |
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 Philebus by Plato: pleases. But Pleasure I know to be manifold, and with her, as I was just
now saying, we must begin, and consider what her nature is. She has one
name, and therefore you would imagine that she is one; and yet surely she
takes the most varied and even unlike forms. For do we not say that the
intemperate has pleasure, and that the temperate has pleasure in his very
temperance,--that the fool is pleased when he is full of foolish fancies
and hopes, and that the wise man has pleasure in his wisdom? and how
foolish would any one be who affirmed that all these opposite pleasures are
severally alike!
PROTARCHUS: Why, Socrates, they are opposed in so far as they spring from
opposite sources, but they are not in themselves opposite. For must not
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