| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: Venellos, Osismos, Coriosolitas, Esuvios, Aulercos, Redones, quae sunt
maritimae civitates Oceanumque attingunt, certior factus est omnes eas
civitates in dicionem potestatemque populi Romani esse redactas.
His rebus gestis omni Gallia pacata, tanta huius belli ad barbaros
opinio perlata est uti ab iis nationibus quae trans Rhenum incolerent
legationes ad Caesarem mitterentur, quae se obsides daturas, imperata
facturas pollicerentur. Quas legationes Caesar, quod in Italiam
Illyricumque properabat, inita proxima aestate ad se reverti iussit. Ipse
in Carnutes, Andes, Turonos quaeque civitates propinquae iis locis erant
ubi bellum gesserat, legionibus in hiberna deductis, in Italiam profectus
est. Ob easque res ex litteris Caesaris dierum XV supplicatio decreta
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Rinkitink In Oz by L. Frank Baum: instructed them to march in good order along the path
to the City of Regos, where he would meet them and
tell them what to do next.
They readily agreed to obey him, and, arming
themselves with iron bars and pick-axes which they
brought from the mines, the slaves began their march to
the city.
Zella at first wished to be left behind, that she
might make her way to her home, but neither Rinkitink
nor Inga thought it was safe for her to wander alone
through the forest, so they induced her to return with
Rinkitink In Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: of the chancel steps. There were murmurs of: "It is not
the king," and "Who is this new impostor?"
Leopold's eyes were searching the faces of the close-
packed nobility about the chancel. At last they fell upon
the face of Peter. The young man halted not two paces
from the Regent. The man went white as the king's eyes
bored straight into his miserable soul.
"Peter of Blentz," cried the young man, "as God is your
judge, tell the truth today. Who am I?"
The legs of the Prince Regent trembled. He sank upon
his knees, raising his hands in supplication toward the other.
The Mad King |
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 Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: whom ye were wont to press forward so joyously!--When rumour
announced his approach, when the cry arose, "Egmont comes! He comes
from Ghent!"--then happy indeed were those citizens who dwelt in the
streets through which he was to pass. And when the neighing of his steed
was heard, did not every one throw aside his work, while a ray of hope
and joy, like a sunbeam from his countenance, stole over the toil-worn
faces that peered from every window. Then, as ye stood in the doorways,
ye would lift up your children in your arms, and pointing to him, exclaim:
"See, that is Egmont, he who towers above the rest! 'Tis from bird that ye
must look for better times than those your poor fathers have known." Let
not your children inquire at some future day, "Where is he? Where are the
Egmont |
