| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Altar of the Dead by Henry James: provide for him on the very ground of having discovered another of
his turpitudes was not to pity but to glorify him. The more
Stransom thought the more he made out that whatever this relation
of Hague's it could only have been a deception more or less finely
practised. Where had it come into the life that all men saw? Why
had one never heard of it if it had had the frankness of honourable
things? Stransom knew enough of his other ties, of his obligations
and appearances, not to say enough of his general character, to be
sure there had been some infamy. In one way or another this
creature had been coldly sacrificed. That was why at the last as
well as the first he must still leave him out and out.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake: 'And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and His priest and king,
Who made up a heaven of our misery.'
NURSE'S SONG
When the voices of children are heard on the green,
And whisperings are in the dale,
The days of my youth rise fresh in my mind,
My face turns green and pale.
Then come home, my children, the sun is gone down,
And the dews of night arise;
Songs of Innocence and Experience |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: divine philosophy be minished in fame. But as the sun, rising to
shine on all, doth bounteously send forth his beams, inviting all
to enjoy his light, even so doth our true philosophy, like the
sun, lead with her light those that are her lovers, and warmeth
and brighteneth them. But if any shut their eyes, and will not
behold the light thereof, not for that must the sun be blamed, or
scorned by others: still less shall the glory of his brightness
be dishonoured through their silliness. But while they, self-
deprived of light, grope like blind men along a wall, and fall
into many a ditch, and scratch out their eyes on many a bramble
bush, the sun, firmly established on his own glory, shall
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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 Love Songs by Sara Teasdale: Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.
Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
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