| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson: must rest content: they have the broad lands and the broad
page of history; this appanage must be denied them; for
between the name of CAMERON and that of CAMPBELL, the muse
will never hesitate.
Note 1, Mr. Nutt reminds me it was "by my sword and Ben
Cruachan" the Cameron swore.
Note 2, "A PERIWIG'D LORD OF LONDON." The first Pitt.
Note 3, "CATHAY." There must be some omission in General
Stewart's charming HISTORY OF THE HIGHLAND REGIMENTS, a book
that might well be republished and continued; or it scarce
appears how our friend could have got to China.
Ballads |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Golden Sayings of Epictetus by Epictetus: whom he is associated therein; one who cannot distinguish Good
and Evil, Beauty and Foulness, . . . Truth and Falsehood, will
never follow Reason in shaping his desires and impulses and
repulsions, nor yet in assent, denial, or suspension of
judgement; but will in one word go about deaf and blind, thinking
himself to be somewhat, when he is in truth of no account. Is
there anything new in all this? Is not this ignorance the cause
of all the mistakes and mischances of men since the human race
began? . . ."
"This is all I have to say to you, and even this against the
grain. Why? Because you have not stirred my spirit. For what can
The Golden Sayings of Epictetus |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac: life.--Aren't we a trifle pinched for room?" he inquired, with
his arm round the lady; "we are screwed up very tightly about the
bust, mamma! If we are much agitated, there may be an explosion;
but I will pick up the fragments with all the care of an
antiquary."
"There is a man who can talk the language of French gallantry!"
said the widow, bending to speak in Mme. Couture's ear.
"Good-bye, little ones!" said Vautrin, turning to Eugene and
Victorine. "Bless you both!" and he laid a hand on either head.
"Take my word for it, young lady, an honest man's prayers are
worth something; they should bring you happiness, for God hears
Father Goriot |
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 Witch, et. al by Anton Chekhov: and murmurs arose even in the village. People began to say that a
search should be made at the Lytchkovs' and at Volodka's, and
then the bridles and the pincers were found under the hedge in
the engineer's garden; someone had thrown them down there.
It happened that the peasants were coming in a crowd out of the
forest, and again they met the engineer on the road. He stopped,
and without wishing them good-day he began, looking angrily first
at one, then at another:
"I have begged you not to gather mushrooms in the park and near
the yard, but to leave them for my wife and children, but your
girls come before daybreak and there is not a mushroom left. . .
|
