| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: carrying out an idea conceived by M. d'Artagnan, and the
said Planchet approving of it in all points, will place
twenty thousand livres in the hands of M. d'Artagnan. He
will require neither repayment nor interest before the
return of M. d'Artagnan from a journey he is about to take
into England. On his part, M. d'Artagnan undertakes to find
twenty thousand livres, which he will join to the twenty
thousand already laid down by the Sieur Planchet. He will
employ the said sum of forty thousand livres according to
his judgment in an undertaking which is described below. On
the day when M. d'Artagnan shall have re-established, by
Ten Years Later |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: the Outlaw of Torn.
Now he was close upon them, and had there been
any doubt before, the wild battle cry which rang from
a thousand fierce throats turned the hopes of the
royalists cold within their breasts.
"For De Montfort! For De Montfort!" and "Down
with Henry!" rang loud and clear above the din of
battle.
Instantly the tide turned, and it was by only the bar-
est chance that the King himself escaped capture, and
regained the temporary safety of Lewes.
The Outlaw of Torn |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from An Unsocial Socialist by George Bernard Shaw: down, followed by Agatha, Gertrude, and some of the braver
students, to the hall, where they found a few shivering servants
watching the housekeeper, who was at the keyhole of the house
door, querulously asking who was there. She was evidently not
heard by those without, for the knocking recommenced whilst she
was speaking, and she recoiled as if she had received a blow on
the mouth. Miss Wilson then rattled the chain to attract
attention, and demanded again who was there.
"Let us in," was returned in a hollow shout through the keyhole.
"There is a dying woman and three children here. Open the door."
Miss Wilson lost her presence of mind. To gain time, she replied,
|
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 Golden Sayings of Epictetus by Epictetus: What else does the poet mean:--
I spake unto him erst Myself, and sent
Hermes the shining One, to check and warn him,
The husband not to slay, nor woo the wife!
LIV
In the same way my friend Heraclitus, who had a trifling
suit about a petty farm at Rhodes, first showed the judges that
his cause was just, and then at the finish cried, "I will not
entreat you: nor do I care what sentence you pass. It is you who
are on your trial, not I!"--And so he ended the case.
LV
The Golden Sayings of Epictetus |
