| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Alexandria and her Schools by Charles Kingsley: carelessness of, and contempt for social and political life; and lastly,
a most brutalising effect on the lay population; who, told that they
were, and believing themselves to be, beings of a lower order, and
living by a lower standard, sank down more and more generation after
generation. They were of the world, and the ways of the world they must
follow. Political life had no inherent sanctity or nobleness; why act
holily and nobly in it? Family life had no inherent sanctity or
nobleness; why act holily and nobly in it either, if there were no holy,
noble, and divine principle or ground for it? And thus grew up, both in
Egypt, Syria, and Byzantium, a chaos of profligacy and chicanery, in
rulers and people, in the home and the market, in the theatre and the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: of Falworth is as good as any in Derbyshire. Just now it is poor
and fallen in estate, but if it is again placed in credit and
honor, thou, who art the son of the house, shalt have thy suit
weighed with as much respect and consideration as though thou
wert my peer in all things, Such is my answer. Art thou
satisfied?"
"I could ask no more," answered Myles.
CHAPTER 29
That night Myles lodged at Mackworth House. The next morning, as
soon as he had broken his fast, which he did in the privacy of
his own apartments, the Earl bade him and Gascoyne to make ready
Men of Iron |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Salome by Oscar Wilde: Le tetrarque n'aime pas regarder les cadavres, sauf les cadavres de
ceux qu'il a tues lui-meme.
LE PAGE D'HERODIAS. Il etait mon frere, et plus proche qu'un frere.
Je lui ai donne une petite boite qui contenait des parfums, et une
bague d'agate qu'il portait toujours e la main. Le soir nous nous
promenions au bord de la riviere et parmi les amandiers et il me
racontait des choses de son pays. Il parlait toujours tres bas. Le
son de sa voix ressemblait au son de la flute d'un joueur de flute.
Aussi il aimait beaucoup e se regarder dans la riviere. Je lui ai
fait des reproches pour cela.
SECOND SOLDAT. Vous avez raison; il faut cacher le cadavre. Il ne
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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 The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare: Suitors to Bianca
GREMIO
HORTENSIO
Servants to Lucentio
TRANIO
BIONDELLO
Servants to Petruchio
GRUMIO
CURTIS
PEDANT, set up to personate Vincentio
Daughters to Baptista
The Taming of the Shrew |
