| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: perhaps not so much. Honestly now, Doctor, have you not stirred
up the sober brains of some of your countrymen to enact a scene
in our masquerade?"
"Perhaps," slyly remarked the granddaughter of Colonel Joliffe,
whose high spirit had been stung by many taunts against New
England,--"perhaps we are to have a mask of allegorical figures.
Victory, with trophies from Lexington and Bunker Hill--Plenty,
with her overflowing horn, to typify the present abundance in
this good town--and Glory, with a wreath for his Excellency's
brow."
Sir William Howe smiled at words which he would have answered
Twice Told Tales |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: Clara. Perhaps, Mother, if I want something to do.--Yesterday, some of his
people went by, singing songs in honour. At least his name was in the
songs! The rest I could not understand. My heart leaped up into my
throat,--I would fain have called them back if I had not felt ashamed.
Mother. Take care! Thy impetuous nature will ruin all. Thou wilt betray
thyself before the people; as, not long ago, at thy cousin's, when thou
roundest out the woodcut with the description, and didst exclaim, with a
cry: "Count Egmont!"--I grew as red as fire.
Clara. Could I help crying out? It was the battle of Gravelines, and I found
in the picture the letter C. and then looked for it in the description below.
There it stood, "Count Egmont, with his horse shot under him." I
Egmont |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: aestuariis, navigationem impeditam propter inscientiam locorum
paucitatemque portuum sciebant, neque nostros exercitus propter inopiam
frumenti diutius apud se morari posse confidebant; ac iam ut omnia contra
opinionem acciderent, tamen sc plurimum navibus posse, [quam] Romanos
neque ullam facultatem habere navium, neque eorum locorum ubi bellum
gesturi essent vada, portus, insulas novisse; ac longe aliam esse
navigationem in concluso mari atque in vastissimo atque apertissimo Oceano
perspiciebant. His initis consiliis oppida muniunt, frumenta ex agris in
oppida comportant, naves in Venetiam, ubi Caesarem primum bellum gesturum
constabat, quam plurimas possunt cogunt. Socios sibi ad id bellum
Osismos, Lexovios, Namnetes, Ambiliatos, Morinos, Diablintes, Menapios
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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 Lucile by Owen Meredith: Her green quiet years, changed by gentle degrees
To the loveliest vision of youth a youth sees
In his loveliest fancies: as pure as a pearl,
And as perfect: a noble and innocent girl,
With eighteen sweet summers dissolved in the light
Of her lovely and lovable eyes, soft and bright!
Then her guardian wrote to the dame, . . . "Let Constance
Go with you to Paris. I trust that in France
I may be ere the close of the year. I confide
My life's treasure to you. Let her see, at your side,
The world which we live in."
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