| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Droll Stories, V. 1 by Honore de Balzac: could in no way fail to keep it, but I quitted her at dawn. Shall I
accompany thee? I have told her of thy departure, she has promised me
to remain without any amour; we have made a compact. If she deceives
me--well a friend is worth more than a mistress!"
"Oh! my good brother" replied the Maille, quite overcome with these
words, "I wish to demand of thee a still higher proof of thy brave
heart. Wilt thou take charge of my wife, defend her against all, be
her guide, keep her in check and answer to me for the integrity of my
head? Thou canst stay here during my absence, in the green-room, and
be my wife's cavalier."
Lavalliere knitted his brow and said--
Droll Stories, V. 1 |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln: It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . .
we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead,
who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power
to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember,
what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished
work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining
before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion
to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . .
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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 Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: amazement at a strange figure approaching them along the beach.
It was a man with a shiny silk hat, who walked slowly with
bent head, and hands clasped behind him underneath the
tails of his long, black coat.
At sight of him Jane Porter uttered a little cry of surprise
and joy, and ran quickly ahead to meet him. At the sound of
her voice the old man looked up, and when he saw who it was
confronting him he, too, cried out in relief and happiness.
As Professor Archimedes Q. Porter folded his daughter in his
arms tears streamed down his seamed old face, and it was several
minutes before he could control himself sufficiently to speak.
The Return of Tarzan |
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 Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin by Robert Louis Stevenson: 'Then I read some of Congreve. There are admirable scenes in the
manner of Sheridan; all wit and no character, or rather one
character in a great variety of situations and scenes. I could
show you some scenes, but others are too coarse even for my stomach
hardened by a course of French novels.
'All things look so happy for the rain.
'NOV. 16. - Verbenas looking well. . . . I am but a poor creature
without you; I have naturally no spirit or fun or enterprise in me.
Only a kind of mechanical capacity for ascertaining whether two
really is half four, etc.; but when you are near me I can fancy
that I too shine, and vainly suppose it to be my proper light;
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