| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Flame and Shadow by Sara Teasdale: If you have forgotten their wet, sleepy fragrance,
Then you can return and not be afraid.
But if you remember, then turn away forever
To the plains and the prairies where pools are far apart,
There you will not come at dusk on closing water lilies,
And the shadow of mountains will not fall on your heart.
"Did You Never Know?"
Did you never know, long ago, how much you loved me --
That your love would never lessen and never go?
You were young then, proud and fresh-hearted,
You were too young to know.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: stepping up behind another from the rear.[16] Now, if at such a moment
a hostile force appears in front in battle order, the word is passed
down to the commander of each section, "Deploy (into line) to the
left." And so throughout the whole length of the column, until the
line is formed facing the enemy. Or supposing while in this position
an enemy appears in the rear. Each file performs a counter-march[17]
with the effect of bringing the best men face to face with the enemy
all along the line.[18] As to the point that the leader previously on
the right finds himself now on the left,[19] they do not consider that
they are necessarily losers thereby, but, as it may turn out, even
gainers. If, for instance, the enemy attempted to turn their flank, he
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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 Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: pleasant.
"I never doubted it, Mr. Wilding," His Grace replied; "but I should like
to hear you say that you are convinced - at least in part," and he waved
his hand towards the window. It was almost as if he pleaded for
encouragement. In common with most men who came in contact with Wilding,
he had felt the latent force of this man's nature, the strength that was
hidden under that calm surface, and the acuteness of the judgment that
must be wedded to it. He longed t have the word of such a man that his
enterprise was not as desperate as Wilding had seemed at first to paint
it. But Wilding made no concession to hopes or desires when he dealt
with facts.
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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 Contrast by Royall Tyler: redundancy to praise him.
DIMPLE
I have done everything in my power to assist his
passion there: your delicacy, my dearest girl, would
be shocked at half the instances of neglect and mis-
behaviour.
CHARLOTTE
I don't know how I should bear neglect; but Mr.
Dimple must misbehave himself indeed, to forfeit my
good opinion.
DIMPLE
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