| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Alexandria and her Schools by Charles Kingsley: to be possible; this one eternal fact I have rescued from Hela, the
realm of the formless and unknown," how rich one such generation might
make the world for ever!
But such is not the appointed method. The finders are few and far
between, because the true seekers are few and far between; and a whole
generation has often nothing to show for its existence but one solitary
gem which some one man--often unnoticed in his time--has picked up for
them, and so given them "a local habitation and a name."
Eratosthenes had heard that in Syene, in Upper Egypt, deep wells were
enlightened to the bottom on the day of the summer solstice, and that
vertical objects cast no shadows.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: from long silver pipes; and by them are Fenton and Withrington, who
have both tried to follow Drake's path round the world, and failed,
though by no fault of their own. The man who pledges them better
luck next time, is George Fenner, known to "the seven Portugals,"
Leicester's pet, and captain of the galleon which Elizabeth bought
of him. That short prim man in the huge yellow ruff, with sharp
chin, minute imperial, and self-satisfied smile, is Richard
Hawkins, the Complete Seaman, Admiral John's hereafter famous and
hapless son. The elder who is talking with him is his good uncle
William, whose monument still stands, or should stand, in Deptford
Church; for Admiral John set it up there but one year after this
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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 Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac: "My goodness! Well, I'm sure! Mme. Couture, I could live happily
in a garret with a man like that.--There, now!" she added,
looking round for the old vermicelli maker, "there is that Father
Goriot half seas over. HE never thought of taking me anywhere,
the old skinflint. But he will measure his length somewhere. My
word! it is disgraceful to lose his senses like that, at his age!
You will be telling me that he couldn't lose what he hadn't got--
Sylvie, just take him up to his room!"
Sylvie took him by the arm, supported him upstairs, and flung him
just as he was, like a package, across the bed.
"Poor young fellow!" said Mme. Couture, putting back Eugene's
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 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: impulse of some power of which I was unconscious, than as the ardent
desire of my soul. What his feelings were whom I pursued I cannot know.
Sometimes, indeed, he left marks in writing on the barks of the trees
or cut in stone that guided me and instigated my fury. "My reign is not
yet over"--these words were legible in one of these inscriptions--
"you live, and my power is complete. Follow me; I seek the everlasting
ices of the north, where you will feel the misery of cold and frost,
to which I am impassive. You will find near this place, if you follow
not too tardily, a dead hare; eat and be refreshed. Come on, my enemy;
we have yet to wrestle for our lives, but many hard and miserable hours
must you endure until that period shall arrive."
Frankenstein |
