| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tapestried Chamber by Walter Scott: Browne, but merely, as I understood, to save the inconvenience of
introducing a nameless agent in the narrative. He was an officer
of merit, as well as a gentleman of high consideration for family
and attainments.
Some business had carried General Browne upon a tour through the
western counties, when, in the conclusion of a morning stage, he
found himself in the vicinity of a small country town, which
presented a scene of uncommon beauty, and of a character
peculiarly English.
The little town, with its stately old church, whose tower bore
testimony to the devotion of ages long past, lay amidst pastures
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Pericles by William Shakespeare: And then with what haste you can get you to bed.
[Exeunt.]
ACT III.
[Enter Gower.]
GOWER.
Now sleep yslaked hath the rout;
No din but snores the house about,
Made louder by the o'er-fed breast
Of this most pompous marriage-feast.
The cat, with eyne of burning coal,
Now couches fore the mouse's hole;
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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 The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: But McKnight never sees any jokes but his own. He flung the horn
clattering into a corner, and collapsed sulkily into a chair.
"Now," I said, "if you're through manicuring that horn, I'll tell
you about my talk with the lady in black."
"What's wrong?" asked McKnight languidly. "Police watching her,
too?"
"Not exactly. The fact is, Rich, there's the mischief to pay."
Stogie came in, bringing a few additions to our comfort. When he
went out I told my story.
"You must remember," I said, "that I had seen this woman before the
morning of the wreck. She was buying her Pullman ticket when I did.
The Man in Lower Ten |
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 Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: courtesy, in the hope, perchance, of alluring him by flattering
attentions. The day following, the king came to his son, and sat
down, and called him to his side. He embraced and kissed him
affectionately, coaxing him gently and tenderly, and said, "O my
darling and well-beloved son, honour thou thy father's grey
hairs: listen to my entreaty, and come, do sacrifice to the gods;
thus shalt thou win their favour, and receive at their hands
length of days, and the enjoyment of all glory and of an
undisputed kingdom, and happiness of every sort. Thus shalt thou
be well pleasing to me thy father throughout life and be honoured
and lauded of all men. It is a great count in the score of
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