| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: game to be in opposition. The tale of David and Saul would
infallibly be re-enacted; once more we shall have two kings in the
land, - the latent and the patent; and the house of the first will
become once more the resort of "every one that is in distress, and
every one that is in debt, and every one that is discontented."
Against such odds it is my fear that Mataafa might contend in vain;
it is beyond the bounds of my imagination that Laupepa should
contend at all. Foreign ships and bayonets is the cure proposed in
Mulinuu. And certainly, if people at home desire that money should
be thrown away and blood shed in Samoa, an effect of a kind, and
for the time, may be produced. Its nature and prospective
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Crisis in Russia by Arthur Ransome: "The fundamental task at this moment is improvement in
the condition of our transport, prevention of its further
deterioration and preparation of the most elementary
stores of food, raw material and fuel. The whole of the first
period of our reconstruction will be completely occupied in
the concentration of labor on the solution of these
problems, which is a condition of further progress.
"The second period (it will be difficult to say now whether it
will be measured in months or years, since that depends on
many factors beginning with the international
situation and ending with the unanimity or the lack of it in
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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 Heroes by Charles Kingsley: not kill all robbers and evil beasts, and drain great lakes
and marshes, breaking the hills through with his club?
Therefore it was that all men honoured him, because he rid
them of their miseries, and made life pleasant to them and
their children after them. Where can I go, to do as Heracles
has done? Where can I find strange adventures, robbers, and
monsters, and the children of hell, the enemies of men? I
will go by land, and into the mountains, and round by the way
of the Isthmus. Perhaps there I may hear of brave
adventures, and do something which shall win my father's
love.'
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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 Oedipus Trilogy by Sophocles: Who planned the crime, aye, and performed it too,
All save the assassination; and if thou
Hadst not been blind, I had been sworn to boot
That thou alone didst do the bloody deed.
TEIRESIAS
Is it so? Then I charge thee to abide
By thine own proclamation; from this day
Speak not to these or me. Thou art the man,
Thou the accursed polluter of this land.
OEDIPUS
Vile slanderer, thou blurtest forth these taunts,
Oedipus Trilogy |
