| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Sanitary and Social Lectures by Charles Kingsley: simple duty. To defend it after it has become untenable, and even
to die in so doing, is not heroic, but a noble madness, unless an
advantage is to be gained thereby for one's own side. Then,
indeed, it rises towards, if not into, the heroism of self-
sacrifice.
Who, for example, will not endorse the verdict of all ages on the
conduct of those Spartans at Thermopylae, when they sat "combing
their yellow hair for death" on the sea-shore? They devoted
themselves to hopeless destruction; but why? They felt--I must
believe that, for they behaved as if they felt--that on them the
destinies of the Western World might hang; that they were in the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne: "You are a Frenchman, I believe," asked Phileas Fogg, "and your name is John?"
"Jean, if monsieur pleases," replied the newcomer, "Jean Passepartout,
a surname which has clung to me because I have a natural aptness
for going out of one business into another. I believe I'm honest,
monsieur, but, to be outspoken, I've had several trades. I've been
an itinerant singer, a circus-rider, when I used to vault like Leotard,
and dance on a rope like Blondin. Then I got to be a professor of gymnastics,
so as to make better use of my talents; and then I was a sergeant fireman
at Paris, and assisted at many a big fire. But I quitted France
five years ago, and, wishing to taste the sweets of domestic life,
took service as a valet here in England. Finding myself out of place,
Around the World in 80 Days |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan: CRABTREE. Only a Friend of Sir Peter's then I presume--but, sir,
you must have heard of this accident--
SIR OLIVER. Not a word!
CRABTREE. Not of his being dangerously wounded?
SIR OLIVER. The Devil he is!
SIR BENJAMIN. Run thro' the Body----
CRABTREE. Shot in the breast----
SIR BENJAMIN. By one Mr. Surface----
CRABTREE. Aye the younger.
SIR OLIVER. Hey! what the plague! you seem to differ strangely
in your accounts--however you agree that Sir Peter is dangerously
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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 The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft: Let me take it along, Sir, an' I'll swar they wun't nobody know
the difference. I dun't need to tell ye I'll take good keer of
it. It wan't me that put this Dee copy in the shape it is...'
He stopped as he saw firm denial on the librarian's face, and
his own goatish features grew crafty. Armitage, half-ready to
tell him he might make a copy of what parts he needed, thought
suddenly of the possible consequences and checked himself. There
was too much responsibility in giving such a being the key to
such blasphemous outer spheres. Whateley saw how things stood,
and tried to answer lightly.
'Wal, all right, ef ye feel that
The Dunwich Horror |
