| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: discovered there, in a dirty pigeon hole close to the grate in the vestry,
a fearfully mutilated copy of Caxton's edition of the Canterbury Tales,
with woodcuts. Like the book at Paris, it had long been used,
leaf by leaf, in utter ignorance of its value, to light the vestry fire.
Originally worth at least L800, it was then worth half, and, of course,
I energetically drew the attention of the minister in charge to it, as well
as to another grand Folio by Rood and Hunte, 1480. Some years elapsed,
and then the Ecclesiastical Commissioners took the foundation in hand,
but when at last Trustees were appointed, and the valuable library was
re-arranged and catalogued, this "Caxton," together with the fine copy
of "Latterbury" from the first Oxford Press, had disappeared entirely.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: to consider it, and certainty itself. She now found, that
in spite of herself, she had always admitted a hope,
while Edward remained single, that something would occur
to prevent his marrying Lucy; that some resolution of
his own, some mediation of friends, or some more eligible
opportunity of establishment for the lady, would arise
to assist the happiness of all. But he was now married;
and she condemned her heart for the lurking flattery,
which so much heightened the pain of the intelligence.
That he should be married soon, before (as she imagined)
he could be in orders, and consequently before he could
Sense and Sensibility |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: three or four years older than Myles, and half a head taller,
black-browed, powerfully built, and with cheek and chin darkened
by the soft budding of his adolescent beard, stood making his
report.
Sir James listened in grim silence while Gascoyne told his
errand.
"So, then, pardee, I am bid to take another one of ye, am I?" he
snarled. "As though ye caused me not trouble enow; and this one a
cub, looking a very boor in carriage and breeding. Mayhap the
Earl thinketh I am to train boys to his dilly-dally household
service as well as to use of arms."
Men of Iron |
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 Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: legislators, which brought together by force two systems
theoretically irreconcilable.
The principle of the independence of the States prevailed in
the formation of the Senate, and that of the sovereignty of the
nation predominated in the composition of the House of
Representatives. It was decided that each State should send two
senators to Congress, and a number of representatives
proportioned to its population. *n It results from this
arrangement that the State of New York has at the present day
forty representatives and only two senators; the State of
Delaware has two senators and only one representative; the State
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