| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: rise and make room, even for a younger man. At home he will have his
maiden relatives to support in isolation (and they will hold him to
blame for their unwedded lives).[4] A hearth with no wife to bless it
--that is a condition he must face,[5] and yet he will have to pay
damages to the last farthing for incurring it. Let him not roam abroad
with a smooth and smiling countenance;[6] let him not imitate men
whose fame is irreproachable, or he shall feel on his back the blows
of his superiors. Such being the weight of infamy which is laid upon
all cowards, I, for my part, am not surprised if in Sparta they deem
death preferable to a life so steeped in dishonour and reproach.
[2] See Lucian, "Anacharsis," 38; Muller, "Dorians," (vol. ii. 309,
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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 Ebb-Tide by Stevenson & Osbourne: 'Once, O wonder! once from the ashes of my heart
Arose a blossom--'
Herrick and the captain finished their letters about the same
time; each was breathing deep, and their eyes met and were
averted as they closed the envelopes.
'Sorry I write so big,' said the captain gruffly. 'Came all of a
rush, when it did come.'
'Same here,' said Herrick. 'I could have done with a ream when I
got started; but it's long enough for all the good I had to say.'
They were still at the addresses when the clerk strolled up,
smirking and twirling his envelope, like a man well pleased. 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 Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott: And give a queenly air to this crimson robe of mine."
And proudly she cried, "These fire-flies shall be
My jewels, since the stars can never come to me."
Just then a tiny dew-drop that hung o'er the dell
On the breast of the bud like a soft star fell;
But impatiently she flung it away from her leaf,
And it fell on her mother like a tear of grief,
While she folded to her breast, with wilful pride,
A glittering fire-fly that hung by her side.
"Heed," said the mother rose, "daughter mine,
Why shouldst thou seek for beauty not thine?
Flower Fables |
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 Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom by William and Ellen Craft: borne up in a manner that much surprised us both,
grasped me by the hand, and said, "Thank God,
William, we are safe!" and then burst into tears, leant
upon me, and wept like a child. The reaction
was fearful. So when we reached the house, she
was in reality so weak and faint that she could
scarcely stand alone. However, I got her into the
apartments that were pointed out, and there we
knelt down, on this Sabbath, and Christmas-day,--a
day that will ever be memorable to us,--and poured
out our heartfelt gratitude to God, for his good-
Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom |
