| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Economist by Xenophon: appointed moment comes, when now it is time for the swelling clusters
to be sweetened by the sun, behold, it drops a leaf and then a leaf,
so teaching us to strip it bare itself and let the vintage ripen. With
plenty teeming, see the fertile mother shows her mellow clusters, and
the while is nursing a new brood in primal crudeness.[32] So the vine
plant teaches us how best to gather in the vintage, even as men gather
figs, the juiciest first.[33]
[29] Or, "gives them at once a perfect knowledge of herself."
[30] Lit. "best to deal with her," "make use of her."
[31] Lit. "teaches us to prop it."
[32] Lit. "yet immature."
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: like a breath from the windowpane, at the thought that perhaps
his trusty right-hand man was in some danger of his life.
So cautiously he made his way through the thickets whence
the voices came, and, pushing aside the leaves, peeped into
the little open space where the two men, staff in hand,
were coming slowly together.
"Ha!" quoth Robin to himself, "here is merry sport afoot.
Now I would give three golden angels from my own pocket if yon
stout fellow would give Little John a right sound drubbing!
It would please me to see him well thumped for having failed
in my bidding. I fear me, though, there is but poor chance
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: 'Hear me, you chiefs and captains of my mother's race, who am your
princess by right of blood, the last of your ancient rulers, and
who am moreover the daughter of Montezuma, Emperor of Anahuac, now
dead to us but living evermore in the Mansions of the Sun. First I
present to you this my husband, the lord Teule, to whom I was given
in marriage when he held the spirit of the god Tezcat, and whom,
when he had passed the altar of the god, being chosen by heaven to
aid us in our war, I wedded anew after the fashion of the earth,
and by the will of my royal brethren. Know, chiefs and captains,
that this lord, my husband, is not of our Indian blood, nor is he
altogether of the blood of the Teules with whom we are at war, but
Montezuma's Daughter |
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 Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs: lonely home.
If you know the strange white man who saved our lives so
many times, and brought us food, and if you can converse
with him, thank him, also, for his kindness.
We sail within the hour, never to return; but we wish you
and that other jungle friend to know that we shall always
thank you for what you did for strangers on your shore, and
that we should have done infinitely more to reward you both
had you given us the opportunity.
Very respectfully,
WM. CECIL CLAYTON.
Tarzan of the Apes |
