| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: "Yes, you may take one," he answered; "but I don't think sugar
is good for little boys."
This little boy stepped forward and carefully selected three of
the coveted fragments, two of which he buried in the pocket of
his knickerbockers, depositing the other as promptly in another place.
He poked his alpenstock, lance-fashion, into Winterbourne's bench
and tried to crack the lump of sugar with his teeth.
"Oh, blazes; it's har-r-d!" he exclaimed, pronouncing the adjective
in a peculiar manner.
Winterbourne had immediately perceived that he might
have the honor of claiming him as a fellow countryman.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas: nothing laughable in it. However," he added, turning to
Porthos, "I should not regret dying, sir, were I sure that
by doing so I might still be useful to you."
"Mouston," replied Porthos, much affected, "should we ever
see my castle of Pierrefonds again you shall have as your
own and for your descendants the vineyard that surrounds the
farm."
"And you should call it `Devotion,'" added Aramis; "the
vineyard of self-sacrifice, to transmit to latest ages the
recollection of your devotion to your master."
"Chevalier," said D'Artagnan, laughing, "you could eat a
Twenty Years After |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from On Revenues by Xenophon: Athens as elsewhere, but that, owing to the pressure of poverty on the
masses, a certain measure of injustice in their dealing with the
allied states[2] could not be avoided; I set myself to discover
whether by any manner of means it were possible for the citizens of
Athens to be supported solely from the soil of Attica itself, which
was obviously the most equitable solution. For if so, herein lay, as I
believed, the antidote at once to their own poverty and to the feeling
of suspicion with which they are regarded by the rest of Hellas.
[2] Lit. "the cities," i.e. of the alliance, {tas summakhidas}.
I had no sooner begun my investigation than one fact presented itself
clearly to my mind, which is that the country itself is made by nature
|
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 Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: Behold, thus God wishes to indicate to us how He cares for us in all
our need, and faithfully provides also for our temporal support. and
although He abundantly grants and preserves these things even to the
wicked and knaves, yet He wishes that we pray for them, in order that
we may recognize that we receive them from His hand, and may feel His
paternal goodness toward us therein. For when He withdraws His hand,
nothing can prosper nor be maintained in the end, as, indeed, we daily
see and experience. How much trouble there is now in the world only on
account of bad coin, yea, on account of daily oppression and raising of
prices in common trade, bargaining and labor on the part of those who
wantonly oppress the poor and deprive them of their daily bread! This
|
