| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Critias by Plato: may provide himself with a fresh beginning, and not be compelled to say the
same things over again, let him understand that the indulgence is already
extended by anticipation to him. And now, friend Critias, I will announce
to you the judgment of the theatre. They are of opinion that the last
performer was wonderfully successful, and that you will need a great deal
of indulgence before you will be able to take his place.
HERMOCRATES: The warning, Socrates, which you have addressed to him, I
must also take to myself. But remember, Critias, that faint heart never
yet raised a trophy; and therefore you must go and attack the argument like
a man. First invoke Apollo and the Muses, and then let us hear you sound
the praises and show forth the virtues of your ancient citizens.
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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 Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: 'Shall I dine to-day, or not?'
Certain privileged beings, exempt from those anxieties, have food
in abundance and need not struggle to obtain it. Such is the
Gentle, who swims blissfully in the broth of the putrefying adder.
Others--and, by a strange irony of fate, these are generally the
most gifted--only manage to eat by dint of craft and patience.
You are of their company, O my industrious Epeirae! So that you
may dine, you spend your treasures of patience nightly; and often
without result. I sympathize with your woes, for I, who am as
concerned as you about my daily bread, I also doggedly spread my
net, the net for catching ideas, a more elusive and less
The Life of the Spider |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honore de Balzac: "And then," Camusot went on, "bring up the Abbe Carlos Herrera."
"Ah, ha! I was told that he was a priest in Spanish. Pooh! It is a new
edition of Collet, Monsieur Camusot," said the head of the Safety
department.
"There is nothing new!" replied Camusot.
And he signed the two formidable documents which alarm everybody, even
the most innocent witnesses, whom the law thus requires to appear,
under severe penalties in case of failure.
By this time Jacques Collin had, about half an hour since, finished
his deep meditations, and was armed for the fray. Nothing is more
perfectly characteristic of this type of the mob in rebellion against
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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 Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini: party hostile to themselves. It sounded the knell of all hope of
redress of their wrongs.
He beheld a slight young man with a pock-marked face, redeemed
from utter ugliness by a pair of magnificent eyes, leap to a table
outside the Caf‚ de Foy, a drawn sword in his hand, crying, "To
arms!" And then upon the silence of astonishment that cry imposed,
this young man poured a flood of inflammatory eloquence, delivered
in a voice marred at moments by a stutter. He told the people that
the Germans on the Champ de Mars would enter Paris that night to
butcher the inhabitants. "Let us mount a cockade!" he cried, and
tore a leaf from a tree to serve his purpose - the green cockade of
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