| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Pool in the Desert by Sara Jeanette Duncan: Bombay. However'--and I read the telegram, the little solving
telegram from Army Headquarters. I turned my back on her to read it
again, and then I replaced it very carefully and put it in my
pocket. It was a moment to take hold of with both hands, crying on
all one's gods for steadiness.
'How white you look!' said Mrs. Harbottle, with concern. 'Not bad
news?'
'On the contrary, excellent news. Judy, will you stay to lunch?'
She looked at me, hesitating. 'Won't it seem rather a compromise on
your part? When you ought to be rousing the city--'
'I don't intend to rouse the city,' I said.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: Pepys (Samuel), his library, 128.
Petit (Pierre), poem on bookworm, 70.
Philadelphia, wormhole at, 92.
Phillipps (Sir Thos.), 129.
Pieces of silver or denarii, 5.
Pinelli (Maffei), library of, 18.
Plantin Museum, 122.
policemen in Ephesus, 7.
Portrait collectors, 127.
Priestley (Dr.), library burnt, 11, 12.
Printers, the first, 13.
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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 Oedipus Trilogy by Sophocles: It irked me, but I stomached for the nonce
The insult; on the morrow I sought out
My mother and my sire and questioned them.
They were indignant at the random slur
Cast on my parentage and did their best
To comfort me, but still the venomed barb
Rankled, for still the scandal spread and grew.
So privily without their leave I went
To Delphi, and Apollo sent me back
Baulked of the knowledge that I came to seek.
But other grievous things he prophesied,
Oedipus Trilogy |
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 Poems by Bronte Sisters: And now, the envious Jewish priests have brought
Jesus--whom they in mock'ry call their king--
To have, by this grim power, their vengeance wrought;
By this mean reptile, innocence to sting.
Oh! could I but the purposed doom avert,
And shield the blameless head from cruel hurt!
Accessible is Pilate's heart to fear,
Omens will shake his soul, like autumn leaf;
Could he this night's appalling vision hear,
This just man's bonds were loosed, his life were safe,
Unless that bitter priesthood should prevail,
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