| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: to say that if she would retire from the town he should feel better
and safer, and could hold his head higher--and was going on to make
an argument, but she interrupted and surprised him pleasantly by saying
she was ready; it didn't make any difference to her where she stayed,
so that she got her share of the pension regularly. She said she would
not go far, and would call at the haunted house once a month for her money.
Then she said:
"I don't hate you so much now, but I've hated you a many a year--
and anybody would. Didn't I change you off, en give you a good fambly
en a good name, en made you a white gen'l'man en rich, wid store
clothes on--en what did I git for it? You despised me all de time,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: God.
XXXIII.
As for the king, when things fortuned thus, he was completely
bewildered, and plainly showed his sore vexation and tumult of
soul. So again he called all his senators together, and
considered what means were still his to deal with his son. Many
men put forward many counsels, but that Araches, of whom we have
spoken, the most famous in his office, and first of his
councillors, spake unto the king, saying, "What was there to be
done with thy son, O king, that we have not done, to induce him
to follow our doctrines and serve our gods? But, as I perceive,
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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 Kenilworth by Walter Scott: "Bear witness," he continued, when these officers arrived--"bear
witness for me, gentlemen, that our honourable friend Tressilian
is in no way responsible for the effects which this medicine may
produce upon me, the taking it being my own free action and
choice, in regard I believe it to be a remedy which God has
furnished me by unexpected means to recover me of my present
malady. Commend me to my noble and princely Mistress; and say
that I live and die her true servant, and wish to all about her
throne the same singleness of heart and will to serve her, with
more ability to do so than hath been assigned to poor Thomas
Ratcliffe."
Kenilworth |
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 Statesman by Plato: YOUNG SOCRATES: True.
STRANGER: And do we not often praise the quiet strain of action also?
YOUNG SOCRATES: To be sure.
STRANGER: And do we not then say the opposite of what we said of the
other?
YOUNG SOCRATES: How do you mean?
STRANGER: We exclaim How calm! How temperate! in admiration of the slow
and quiet working of the intellect, and of steadiness and gentleness in
action, of smoothness and depth of voice, and of all rhythmical movement
and of music in general, when these have a proper solemnity. Of all such
actions we predicate not courage, but a name indicative of order.
Statesman |
