| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Collection of Antiquities by Honore de Balzac: Mme. Camusot and her supposed lover found old Blondet in his green-
house. He greeted his colleague's wife and her companion, and gave the
charming young man a keen, uneasy glance.
"I have the honor to introduce one of my husband's cousins," said Mme.
Camusot, bringing forward the Duchess; "he is one of the most
distinguished horticulturists in Paris; and as he cannot spend more
than one day with us, on his way back from Brittany, and has heard of
your flowers and plants, I have taken the liberty of coming early."
"Oh, the gentleman is a horticulturist, is he?" said the old Blondet.
The Duchess bowed.
"This is my coffee-plant," said Blondet, "and here is a tea-plant."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: the fate of those on board the ADLER awoke keen anxiety; and
Knappe, on the beach of Matautu, and the other officers of his
consulate on that of Matafele, watched all night. The morning of
the 17th displayed a scene of devastation rarely equalled: the
ADLER high and dry, the OLGA and NIPSIC beached, the TRENTON partly
piled on the VANDALIA and herself sunk to the gun-deck; no sail
afloat; and the beach heaped high with the DEBRIS of ships and the
wreck of mountain forests. Already, before the day, Seumanu, the
chief of Apia, had gallantly ventured forth by boat through the
subsiding fury of the seas, and had succeeded in communicating with
the admiral; already, or as soon after as the dawn permitted,
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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 Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare: 'His brawny sides, with hairy bristles arm'd,
Are better proof than thy spear's point can enter;
His short thick neck cannot be easily harm'd;
Being ireful, on the lion he will venture: 628
The thorny brambles and embracing bushes,
As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes.
'Alas! he nought esteems that face of thine,
To which Love's eyes pay tributary gazes; 632
Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne,
Whose full perfection all the world amazes;
But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread!
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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 Hellenica by Xenophon: ch. iv. "Real nature of the Olynthian scheme," pp. 190 foll., and
note 2, p. 197; also Grote, "H. G." x. 67 foll., 278 foll.
At the conclusion of this address, the Lacedaemonians requested the
allies to speak, bidding them give their joint advice as to the best
course to be pursued in the interests of Peloponnese and the allies.
Thereupon many members, and especially those who wished to gratify the
Lacedaemonians, agreed in counselling active measures; and it was
resolved that the states should severally send contingents to form a
total of ten thousand men. Proposals were also made to allow any
state, so wishing, to give money instead of men, at the rate of three
Aeginetan obols[19] a day per man; or where the contingent consisted
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