| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa: carelessly tossed from his round face. He wore a loin cloth of
woven sweet grass. Crouching low to the marshy ground, he listened
to the wailing voice. As the voice grew hoarse and only sobs shook
the slender figure of the woman, the eyes of the wild boy grew dim
and wet.
At length, when the moaning ceased, he sprang to his feet and
ran like a nymph with swift outstretched toes. He rushed into a
small hut of reeds and grasses.
"Mother! Mother! Tell me what voice it was I heard which
pleased my ears, but made my eyes grow wet!" said he, breathless.
"Han, my son," grunted a big, ugly toad. "It was the voice of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: "Wasps," 707; Aristot. "Pol." v. 8.
I put it to you, then: can any one suppose that all, or any, of these
may dispense with adjudication?[12] If so, will any one say which
ought, and which ought not, to be adjudicated on, there and then? If,
on the other hand, we are forced to admit that these are all fair
cases for adjudication, it follows of necessity that they should be
decided during the twelve-month; since even now the boards of judges
sitting right through the year are powerless to stay the tide of
evildoing by reason of the multitude of the people.
[12] Reading with Kirchhoff. Cf. for {oiesthai khre}, "Hell." VI. iv.
23; "Cyr." IV. ii. 28.
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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 The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela: that's why, just because the first time you saw me I was
doing this dog's job. But look here, I ask you, what in
God's name can a man do when he's poor and has a
wife to support and kids? . . . Right you are, Sergeant,
let's go: I've nothing but respect for the home of what I
call a brave man, a real, honest, genuine man!"
When they had gone, the woman drew close to
Demetrio.
"Holy Virgin, what agony! I suffered as though it was
you they'd shot."
"You go to father's house, quick!" Demetrio ordered.
The Underdogs |
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 Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: "It's not a joke. It's the truth. I murdered him." He had
spoken painfully at first, as if there were a knot in his throat;
but each time he repeated the words he found they were easier to
say.
Ascham laid down his extinct cigar.
"What's the matter? Aren't you well? What on earth are you
driving at?"
"I'm perfectly well. But I murdered my cousin, Joseph Lenman,
and I want it known that I murdered him."
"YOU WANT IT KNOWN?"
"Yes. That's why I sent for you. I'm sick of living, and when I
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