| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: a delightful occasion, and there was something particularly agreeable
in the circumstances in which our young Englishmen found themselves.
They were extremely good natured young men; they were more observant than
they appeared; in a sort of inarticulate, accidentally dissimulative fashion,
they were highly appreciative. This was, perhaps, especially the case
with the elder, who was also, as I have said, the man of talent.
They sat down at a little table, which was a very different affair
from the great clattering seesaw in the saloon of the steamer.
The wide doors and windows of the restaurant stood open, beneath large
awnings, to a wide pavement, where there were other plants in tubs,
and rows of spreading trees, and beyond which there was a large
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum: flies and honey."
"But -- pardon me if I seem inquisitive -- are you not all rather -- ahem!
rather unusual?" asked the Woggle-Bug, looking from one to another with
unconcealed interest.
"Not more so than yourself," answered the Scarecrow. "Everything in life is
unusual until you get accustomed to it."
"What rare philosophy!" exclaimed the Woggle-Bug, admiringly.
"Yes; my brains are working well today," admitted the Scarecrow, an accent
of pride in his voice.
"Then, if you are sufficiently rested and refreshed, let us bend our steps
toward the Emerald City," suggested the magnified one.
The Marvelous Land of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Four Arthurian Romances by Chretien DeTroyes: does not know what her desire is, and she knows not the cause of
his distress.
(Vv. 541-574.) The Queen takes note of them and sees them often
blanch and pale and heave deep sighs and tremble. But she knows
no reason why they should do so, unless it be because of the sea
where they are. I think she would have divined the cause had the
sea not thrown her off her guard, but the sea deceives and tricks
her, so that she does not discover love because of the sea; and
it is from love that comes the bitter pain that distresses them.
(12) But of the three concerned, the Queen puts all the blame
upon the sea; for the other two accuse the third to her, and hold
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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 Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli: reaches the river which passes by Sinigalia. If he turns to his left
hand along the bank of it, and goes for the distance of a bow-shot, he
arrives at a bridge which crosses the river; he is then almost abreast
of the gate that leads into Sinigalia, not by a straight line, but
transversely. Before this gate there stands a collection of houses
with a square to which the bank of the river forms one side.
The Vitelli and Orsini having received orders to wait for the duke,
and to honour him in person, sent away their men to several castles
distant from Sinigalia about six miles, so that room could be made for
the men of the duke; and they left in Sinigalia only Oliverotto and
his band, which consisted of one thousand infantry and one hundred and
The Prince |
