| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: men witless in mind: in the heyday of life they batten in sleek
idleness, and wearily do they drag through an age of wrinkled
wretchedness: and why? they blush with shame at the thought of deeds
done in the past, and groan for weariness at what is left to do.
During their youth they ran riot through their sweet things, and laid
up for themselves large store of bitterness against the time of eld.
But my companionship is with the gods; and with the good among men my
conversation; no bounteous deed, divine or human, is wrought without
my aid. Therefore am I honoured in Heaven pre-eminently, and upon
earth among men whose right it is to honour me;[38] as a beloved
fellow-worker of all craftsmen; a faithful guardian of house and
The Memorabilia |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley: to flow on for ever, in a world where Lady Why rules, and Madam
How obeys. I only exist (like everything else, from the sun in
heaven to the gnat which dances in his beam) on condition of
working, whether we wish it or not, whether we know it or not. I
am not an idle stream, only fit to chatter to those who bathe or
fish in my waters, or even to give poets beautiful fancies about
me. You little guess the work I do. For I am one of the
daughters of Madam How, and, like her, work night and day, we know
not why, though Lady Why must know. So day by day, and night by
night, while you are sleeping (for I never sleep), I carry,
delicate and soft as I am, a burden which giants could not bear:
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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 Verses 1889-1896 by Rudyard Kipling: All 'e solemn promised 'e will shove be'ind 'im.
What's the good o' prayin' for The Wrath to strike 'im
(Mary, pity women!), when the rest are like 'im?
What 'ope for me or -- it?
What's left for us to do?
I've walked with men a bit,
But this -- but this is you.
So 'elp me Christ, it's true!
Where can I 'ide or go?
You coward through and through! . . .
Verses 1889-1896 |
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 Roads of Destiny by O. Henry: capacity of the head of a more or less important department of state.
The clerks were beginning to listen.
"Now, Standifer," said the treasurer, soothingly, "you know I'd like
to help in this matter, but stop and think a moment, please. Every
cent in the treasury is expended only by appropriation made by the
legislature, and drawn out by checks issued by the comptroller. I
can't control the use of a cent of it. Neither can you. Your
department isn't disbursive--it isn't even administrative--it's purely
clerical. The only way for the lady to obtain relief is to petition
the legislature, and--"
"To the devil with the legislature," said Standifer, turning away.
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