| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lysis by Plato: further object, whatever it may be, which we value most of all, and for the
sake of which gold and all our other possessions are acquired by us. Am I
not right?
Yes, certainly.
And may not the same be said of the friend? That which is only dear to us
for the sake of something else is improperly said to be dear, but the truly
dear is that in which all these so-called dear friendships terminate.
That, he said, appears to be true.
And the truly dear or ultimate principle of friendship is not for the sake
of any other or further dear.
True.
Lysis |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Beasts of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: might have had the same result, or it might have put the
bellicose one to flight--it all depended upon the young bull's
stock of courage.
To stand perfectly still, waiting, was the middle course.
In this event the bull would, according to custom, approach
quite close to the object of his attention, growling hideously
and baring slavering fangs. Slowly he would circle about the other,
as though with a chip upon his shoulder; and this he did,
even as Tarzan had foreseen.
It might be a bluff royal, or, on the other hand, so unstable is
the mind of an ape, a passing impulse might hurl the hairy mass,
The Beasts of Tarzan |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Reign of King Edward the Third by William Shakespeare: And carry bag and baggage too?
TWO.
Quarter day? Aye, and quartering day, I fear:
Have ye not heard the news that flies abroad?
ONE.
What news?
THREE.
How the French Navy is destroyed at Sea,
And that the English Army is arrived.
ONE.
What then?
|
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 Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: much. How she had fallen--how broken and spiritless must she
be--to have still the same old horror of Lassiter's guns and his
name, yet feel somehow a cold, shrinking protection in their law
and might and use.
"Did you trail Venters--find his wonderful valley?" she asked,
eagerly.
"Yes, an' I reckon it's sure a wonderful place."
"Is he safe there?"
"That's been botherin' me some. I tracked him an' part of the
trail was the hardest I ever tackled. Mebbe there's a rustler or
somebody in this country who's as good at trackin' as I am. If
Riders of the Purple Sage |
