| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: obtinebant, qui dicerent sibi esse in animo sine ullo maleficio iter per
provinciam facere, propterea quod aliud iter haberent nullum: rogare ut
eius voluntate id sibi facere liceat. Caesar, quod memoria tenebat
L. Cassium consulem occisum exercitumque eius ab Helvetiis pulsum et sub
iugum missum, concedendum non putabat; neque homines inimico animo, data
facultate per provinciam itineris faciundi, temperaturos ab iniuria et
maleficio existimabat. Tamen, ut spatium intercedere posset dum milites
quos imperaverat convenirent, legatis respondit diem se ad deliberandum
sumpturum: si quid vellent, ad Id. April. reverterentur.
Interea ea legione quam secum habebat militibusque, qui ex provincia
convenerant, a lacu Lemanno, qui in flumen Rhodanum influit, ad montem
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Out of Time's Abyss by Edgar Rice Burroughs: thought of it. The Englishman was glad that he could not see
into the dark alcove or know what were all the ingredients that
constituted the mess before him, for he was very hungry.
After the first mouthful he cared even less to investigate the
antecedents of the dish, for he found it peculiarly palatable.
It seemed to consist of a combination of meat, fruits,
vegetables, small fish and other undistinguishable articles of
food all seasoned to produce a gastronomic effect that was at
once baffling and delicious.
When he had finished, his trough was empty, and then he commenced
to wonder who was to settle for his meal. As he waited for the
Out of Time's Abyss |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Treatise on Parents and Children by George Bernard Shaw: employments.
Most acquirements carry their own privileges with them. Thus a baby
has to be pretty closely guarded and imprisoned because it cannot take
care of itself. It has even to be carried about (the most complete
conceivable infringement of its liberty) until it can walk. But
nobody goes on carrying children after they can walk lest they should
walk into mischief, though Arab boys make their sisters carry them, as
our own spoiled children sometimes make their nurses, out of mere
laziness, because sisters in the East and nurses in the West are kept
in servitude. But in a society of equals (the only reasonable and
permanently possible sort of society) children are in much greater
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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 King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: When he might spurn him with his foot away?
It is war's prize to take all vantages,
And ten to one is no impeach of valour.
[They lay hands on York, who struggles.]
CLIFFORD.
Ay, ay; so strives the woodcock with the gin.
NORTHUMBERLAND.
So doth the cony struggle in the net.
[York is taken prisoner.]
YORK.
So triumph thieves upon their conquer'd booty;
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