| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville: in other countries, ne the ordinance of war neither. And men clepe
the elephants WARKES.
And in that isle there is a great marvel, more to speak of than in
any other part of the world. For all manner of fishes, that be
there in the sea about them, come once in the year - each manner of
diverse fishes, one manner of kind after other. And they cast
themselves to the sea bank of that isle so great plenty and
multitude, that no man may unnethe see but fish. And there they
abide three days. And every man of the country taketh of them as
many as him liketh. And after, that manner of fish after the third
day departeth and goeth into the sea. And after them come another
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Salome by Oscar Wilde: que vous m'avez demande. [Il vide la coupe de vin.]
SALOME. Donnez-moi la tete d'Iokanaan.
HERODIAS. C'est bien dit, ma fille! Vous, vous etes ridicule avec
vos paons.
HERODE. Taisez-vous. Vous criez toujours. Vous criez comme une
bete de proie. Il ne faut pas crier comme cela. Votre voix
m'ennuie. Taisez-vous, je vous dis . . . Salome, pensez e ce que
vous faites. Cet homme vient peut-etre de Dieu. Je suis sur qu'il
vient de Dieu. C'est un saint homme. Le doigt de Dieu l'a touche.
Dieu a mis dans sa bouche des mots terribles. Dans le palais, comme
dans le desert, Dieu est toujours avec lui . . . Au moins, c'est
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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 $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories by Mark Twain: He was aware that Ambulinia had a confidence that was, indeed,
as firm and as resolute as she was beautiful and interesting.
He hastened to the cottage of Louisa, who received him in her usual
mode of pleasantness, and informed him that Ambulinia had just that
moment left. "Is it possible?" said Elfonzo. "Oh, murdered hours!
Why did she not remain and be the guardian of my secrets?
But hasten and tell me how she has stood this trying scene,
and what are her future determinations." "You know," said Louisa,
"Major Elfonzo, that you have Ambulinia's first love, which is
of no small consequence. She came here about twilight, and shed
many precious tears in consequence of her own fate with yours.
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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 Euthydemus by Plato: is the art which we were seeking, it ought to be useful.
CRITO: Certainly.
SOCRATES: And surely it ought to do us some good?
CRITO: Certainly, Socrates.
SOCRATES: And Cleinias and I had arrived at the conclusion that knowledge
of some kind is the only good.
CRITO: Yes, that was what you were saying.
SOCRATES: All the other results of politics, and they are many, as for
example, wealth, freedom, tranquillity, were neither good nor evil in
themselves; but the political science ought to make us wise, and impart
knowledge to us, if that is the science which is likely to do us good, and
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