| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: come to my eyes come over the scene--the town, and State,
and country, greater than any that mere time could effect.
I saw yet more distinctly the State in which I lived. I saw
to what extent the people among whom I lived could be
trusted as good neighbors and friends; that their friendship
was for summer weather only; that they did not greatly
propose to do right; that they were a distinct race from me
by their prejudices and superstitions, as the Chinamen and
Malays are that in their sacrifices to humanity they ran no
risks, not even to their property; that after all they were
not so noble but they treated the thief as he had treated
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: course; the same song over and over again."
"But does not the resemblance you were speaking about just
now strike the turnkeys?"
"My dear M. d'Herblay, it is only for men attached to the
court, as you are, to take trouble about such matters."
"You're right, you're right, my dear M. Baisemeaux. Let me
give you another taste of this Volnay."
"Not a taste merely, a full glass; fill yours too."
"Nay, nay! You are a musketeer still, to the very tips of
your fingers, while I have become a bishop. A taste for me;
a glass for yourself."
Ten Years Later |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare: To give her so much grief, and not a tongue.
'Poor instrument,' quoth she, 'without a sound,
I'll tune thy woes with my lamenting tongue;
And drop sweet balm in Priam's painted wound,
And rail on Pyrrhus that hath done him wrong,
And with my tears quench Troy that burns so long;
And with my knife scratch out the angry eyes
Of all the Greeks that are thine enemies.
'Show me the strumpet that began this stir,
That with my nails her beauty I may tear.
Thy heat of lust, fond Paris, did incur
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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 Rewards and Fairies by Rudyard Kipling: 'I do. But why are you so sure, little maid?'
'Because - because he doesn't look like it,' said Una stoutly.
'I thank you,' said Simon to Una. 'I - I was always trustable-
like with children if you let me alone, you double handful o'
mischief.' He pretended to heave up his axe on Puck; and then his
shyness overtook him afresh.
'Where did you know Sir Francis Drake?' said Dan, not liking
being called a child.
'At Rye Port, to be sure,' said Simon, and seeing Dan's
bewilderment, repeated it.
'Yes, but look here,'said Dan. '"Drake he was a Devon man."
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