| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: jealousy of the one, and destroying the influence of the other.
In order to accomplish such desirable ends she quietly awaited
her opportunity. This came in due time.
It happened one evening when his majesty had been visiting
Frances Stuart in her apartments, and had returned to his own in
a condition of ill-humour and disappointment, the countess, who
had been some days out of favour, suddenly presented herself
before him, and in a bantering tone, accompanied by ironical
smiles, addressed him.
"I hope," said she, "I may be allowed to pay you my homage,
although the angelic Stuart has forbidden you to see me at my own
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln: immediately swung back into place, and Rochester, following closely
at the prisoner's heels, halted abruptly. A fit of coughing shook
the burglar and he paused by the iron railing, gasping for breath.
"Water," he pleaded, and a court attendant handed a cup to
Rochester, standing just outside the cage, and he passed it over
the iron railing to the burglar. Then turning on his heel the
lawyer rejoined Clymer, his discontent plainly discernible.
"A clear case against your client," remarked Clymer, reading his
thoughts. "Don't take the affair to heart, man; you did your
best under difficulties."
Rochester shook his head gloomily. "I might have - Jove! why didn't
The Red Seal |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tao Teh King by Lao-tze: the departed will not manifest their spiritual energy. It is not that
those manes have not that spiritual energy, but it will not be
employed to hurt men. It is not that it could not hurt men, but
neither does the ruling sage hurt them.
3. When these two do not injuriously affect each other, their good
influences converge in the virtue (of the Tao).
61. 1. What makes a great state is its being (like) a low-lying, down-
flowing (stream);--it becomes the centre to which tend (all the small
states) under heaven.
2. (To illustrate from) the case of all females:--the female always
overcomes the male by her stillness. Stillness may be considered (a
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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 Astoria by Washington Irving: dispute. It was useless at the present moment, and under present
circumstances, to attempt any compulsory measures with these
deserters. Two of them Mr. Hunt prevailed upon, by mild means, to
return with him. The rest refused; nay, what was worse, they
spread such reports of the hardships and dangers to be
apprehended in the course of the expedition, that they struck a
panic into those hunters who had recently engaged at St. Louis,
and, when the hour of departure arrived, all but one refused to
embark. It was in vain to plead or remonstrate; they shouldered
their rifles and turned their backs upon the expedition, and Mr.
Hunt was fain to put off from shore with the single hunter and a
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