| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lair of the White Worm by Bram Stoker: it. There are many things on which we may seek--and perhaps find--
enlightenment. The more we know at the start, the more things which
may come into our view will develop themselves."
CHAPTER III--DIANA'S GROVE
Curiosity took Adam Salton out of bed in the early morning, but when
he had dressed and gone downstairs; he found that, early as he was,
Sir Nathaniel was ahead of him. The old gentleman was quite
prepared for a long walk, and they started at once.
Sir Nathaniel, without speaking, led the way to the east, down the
hill. When they had descended and risen again, they found
themselves on the eastern brink of a steep hill. It was of lesser
Lair of the White Worm |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: graviorem fortunam Sequanorum quam reliquorum, quod soli ne in occulto
quidem queri neque auxilium implorare auderent absentisque Ariovisti
crudelitatem, velut si cora adesset, horrerent, propterea quod reliquis
tamen fugae facultas daretur, Sequanis vero, qui intra fines suos
Ariovistum recepissent, quorum oppida omnia in potestate eius essent,
omnes cruciatus essent perferendi.
His rebus cognitis Caesar Gallorum animos verbis confirmavit
pollicitusque est sibi eam rem curae futuram; magnam se habere spem et
beneficio suo et auctoritate adductum Ariovistum finem iniuriis facturum.
Hac oratione habita, concilium dimisit. Et secundum ea multae res eum
hortabantur quare sibi eam rem cogitandam et suscipiendam putaret, in
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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 Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: bogs, whence he was now returning home. He had been working there
for two and a half months, and was bringing home his wages, which
only came to 10 roubles, since part had been paid beforehand when
he was hired. They worked, as he explained, up to their knees in
water from sunrise to sunset, with two hours' interval for
dinner.
"Those who are not used to it find it hard, of course," he said;
" but when one's hardened it doesn't matter, if only the food is
right. At first the food was bad. Later the people complained,
and they got good food, and it was easy to work."
Then he told them how, during 28 years he went out to work, and
Resurrection |
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 Chronicles of the Canongate by Walter Scott: the martens and wild cats. Along the west side of the pass lies
a wall of sheer and barren crags. From behind they rise in
rough, uneven, and heathy declivities, out of the wide muir
before mentioned, between Loch Eitive and Loch Awe; but in front
they terminate abruptly in the most frightful precipices, which
form the whole side of the pass, and descend at one fall into the
water which fills its trough. At the north end of the barrier,
and at the termination of the pass, lies that part of the cliff
which is called Craiganuni; at its foot the arm of the lake
gradually contracts its water to a very narrow space, and at
length terminates at two rocks (called the Rocks of Brandir),
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