| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Professor by Charlotte Bronte: "Je n'ai rien compris, moi!"
Here a general murmur arose, and the teacher, opening her lips
for the first time, ejaculated--
"Silence, mesdemoiselles!"
No silence followed--on the contrary, the three ladies in front
began to talk more loudly.
"C'est si difficile, l'Anglais!"
"Je deteste la dictee."
"Quel ennui d'ecrire quelquechose que l'on ne comprend pas!"
Some of those behind laughed: a degree of confusion began to
pervade the class; it was necessary to take prompt measures.
The Professor |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: Dryden sought no opportunity for revenge; for which restraint,
outliving Rochester, and having a noble mind and generous
disposition, he was no doubt glad at heart. Not only did he
survive the earl, but likewise the king. To the company and
conversation of that gracious sovereign the poet was frequently
admitted, a privilege which resulted in satisfaction and pleasure
to both. One pleasant day towards the end of his majesty's
reign, whilst they walked in the Mall, Charles said to him, "If I
were a poet, and indeed I think I am poor enough to be one, I
would write a satire on sedition." Taking this hint, Dryden
speedily set himself to work, and brought a poem on such a
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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 The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy: Evidently, therefore, he had been ahead of her all the time.
She had not dared to question the people at the various inns, where
they had stopped to change horses. She feared that Chauvelin had
spies all along the route, who might overhear her questions, then
outdistance her and warn her enemy of her approach.
Now she wondered at what inn he might be stopping, or whether
he had had the good luck of chartering a vessel already, and was now
himself on the way to France. That thought gripped her at the heart
as with an iron vice. If indeed she should not be too late already!
The loneliness of the room overwhelmed her; everything within
was so horribly still; the ticking of the grandfather's
The Scarlet Pimpernel |
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 Hiero by Xenophon: tyrant's remedy: there's none better suited[22] to his case, since he
alone of all men is in this dilemma, that neither to keep nor lay
aside his troubles profits him.
[22] Or, "nought more profitable to meet the case." The author plays
on {lusitelei} according to his wont.
VIII
Here Simonides took up the thread of the discourse[1] as follows: That
for the moment, Hiero, you should be out of heart regarding tyranny[2]
I do not wonder, since you have a strong desire to be loved by human
beings, and you are persuaded that it is your office which balks the
realisation of your dream.
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