| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: so reward any but misbelievers?
And we made between them and the cities which we had blessed (other)
cities which were evident; and we measured out the journey: 'Journey
ye thereto nights and days in safety!' And they said, 'Our Lord!
make a greater distance between our journeys;' and they wronged
themselves, and we made them legends; and we tore them all to
pieces; verily, in that are signs to every patient, grateful person.
And Iblis verified his suspicion concerning them, and they followed
him, save a party of the believers.
Yet had he no authority over them, save that we might know who it
was that believed in the hereafter from him who amongst them was in
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: "Women always know more than men about names and dates
and that sort of thing," Lord Lambeth rejoined.
"There was Lady Jane Grey we have just been hearing about,
who went in for Latin and Greek and all the learning of her age."
"YOU have no right to be ignorant, at all events," said Bessie.
"Why haven't I as good a right as anyone else?"
"Because you have lived in the midst of all these things."
"What things do you mean? Axes, and blocks, and thumbscrews?"
"All these historical things. You belong to a historical family."
"Bessie is really too historical," said Mrs. Westgate,
catching a word of this dialogue.
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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 Crito by Plato: your friends, when I reflect that the whole business will be attributed
entirely to our want of courage. The trial need never have come on, or
might have been managed differently; and this last act, or crowning folly,
will seem to have occurred through our negligence and cowardice, who might
have saved you, if we had been good for anything; and you might have saved
yourself, for there was no difficulty at all. See now, Socrates, how sad
and discreditable are the consequences, both to us and you. Make up your
mind then, or rather have your mind already made up, for the time of
deliberation is over, and there is only one thing to be done, which must be
done this very night, and if we delay at all will be no longer practicable
or possible; I beseech you therefore, Socrates, be persuaded by me, and do
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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 Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy: himself had listened to the two first acts of ORPHEUS, before
preparing to receive his guests. At ten o'clock--an unusually late
hour in those days--the grand rooms of the Foreign Office, exquisitely
decorated with exotic palms and flowers, were filled to overflowing.
One room had been set apart for dancing, and the dainty strains of the
minuet made a soft accompaniment to the gay chatter, the merry
laughter of the numerous and brilliant company.
In a smaller chamber, facing the top of the fine stairway, the
distinguished host stood ready to receive his guests. Distinguished
men, beautiful women, notabilities from every European country had
already filed past him, had exchanged the elaborate bows and curtsies
The Scarlet Pimpernel |
