| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: Floats, though unseen, among us. . . .
[4] Reading with L. D. after Blomfield (Aesch. "Ag." p. 304),
{idrumenou}, or if as vulg. {isoumenou}, transl. "but in soul is
fashioned like to mortal man."
[5] "Eros."
[6] Or, "who are each and all of us members of his band." For
{thiasotai} cf. Aristot. "Eth. N." viii. 9. 5; Aristoph. "Frogs,"
327.
[7] Cf. Plat. "Symp." 177 D: "No one will vote against you,
Erysimachus, said Socrates; on the only subject [{ta erotika}] of
which I profess to have any knowledge, I certainly cannot refuse
The Symposium |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: Again I asked my porter if there was a letter for me. Nothing!
She is waiting to see if I shall take some fresh step, and if I
retract my letter of to-day, I said to myself as I went to bed;
but, seeing that I do not write, she will write to me to-morrow.
That night, more than ever, I reproached myself for what I had
done. I was alone, unable to sleep, devoured by restlessness and
jealousy, when by simply letting things take their natural course
I should have been with Marguerite, hearing the delicious words
which I had heard only twice, and which made my ears burn in my
solitude.
The most frightful part of the situation was that my judgment was
Camille |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: and in such a way! Without any reason that could justify,
any apology that could atone for the abruptness,
the rudeness, nay, the insolence of it. Henry at a
distance--not able even to bid him farewell. Every hope,
every expectation from him suspended, at least, and who could
say how long? Who could say when they might meet again?
And all this by such a man as General Tilney, so polite,
so well bred, and heretofore so particularly fond of her! It
was as incomprehensible as it was mortifying and grievous.
From what it could arise, and where it would end,
were considerations of equal perplexity and alarm.
Northanger Abbey |
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 Amazing Interlude by Mary Roberts Rinehart: feel to-day that I do not care greatly to live.
"If that is to be, then think of me somewhere, perhaps with Rene by my
side, since he, too, loved you. And I shall still be calling you, and
waiting. Perhaps even beyond the stars they have need of a little house
of mercy; and, God knows, wherever I am I shall have need of you."
He had the letter in the pocket of his tunic, and at last the moment
came when the boat must leave. Suddenly Henri knew that he could not
allow her to cross to England alone. The last few days had brought many
stories of submarine attacks. Here, so far north, the Germans were
particularly active. They had for a long time lurked in waiting for
this British Admiralty boat, with its valuable cargo, its officers and
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