| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: of the convent, where, in the presence of the prior and his
brethren, the Prince required of Pekuah the history of her
adventures.
CHAPTER XXXVIII - THE ADVENTURES OF THE LADY PEKUAH.
"AT what time and in what manner I was forced away," said Pekuah,
"your servants have told you. The suddenness of the event struck
me with surprise, and I was at first rather stupefied than agitated
with any passion of either fear or sorrow. My confusion was
increased by the speed and tumult of our flight, while we were
followed by the Turks, who, as it seemed, soon despaired to
overtake us, or were afraid of those whom they made a show of
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Sportsman by Xenophon: those of unequal length will be convenient to equalise the height on
uneven ground, and those of equal length on level. They should be
sharp-tipped so as to draw out easily[16] and smooth throughout. Those
for the road nets should be twice the height,[17] and those for the
big (haye) nets five spans long,[18] with small forks, the notches not
deep; they should be stout and solid, of a thickness proportionate to
their length. The number of props needed for the nets will vary--many
or few, according to circumstances; a less number if the tension on
the net be great, and a larger number when the nets are slack.[19]
[3] Phasian or Carchedonian. Cf. Pollux, v. 26.
[4] {arkus, enodia, diktua}.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: Cardew?
CECILY. Oh! yes! a great many. From the top of one of the hills
quite close one can see five counties.
GWENDOLEN. Five counties! I don't think I should like that; I
hate crowds.
CECILY. [Sweetly.] I suppose that is why you live in town?
[GWENDOLEN bites her lip, and beats her foot nervously with her
parasol.]
GWENDOLEN. [Looking round.] Quite a well-kept garden this is,
Miss Cardew.
CECILY. So glad you like it, Miss Fairfax.
|
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 The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Whispering to her in her slumbers,
Saying, "Though you were far from me
In the land of Sleep and Silence,
Still the voice of love would reach you!"
And the last of all the figures
Was a heart within a circle,
Drawn within a magic circle;
And the image had this meaning:
"Naked lies your heart before me,
To your naked heart I whisper!"
Thus it was that Hiawatha,
|
