| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Heroes by Charles Kingsley: Charybdis, and all the wonders they had seen, till midnight
passed and the day dawned; but the kings never thought of
sleep. Each man sat still and listened, with his chin upon
his hand.
And at last, when Orpheus had ended, they all went thoughtful
out, and the heroes lay down to sleep, beneath the sounding
porch outside, where Arete had strewn them rugs and carpets,
in the sweet still summer night.
But Arete pleaded hard with her husband for Medeia, for her
heart was softened. And she said, 'The Gods will punish her,
not we. After all, she is our guest and my suppliant, and
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Alcibiades II by Platonic Imitator: who seem to have fared best, have not only gone through many perils and
terrors during their office, but after their return home they have been
beset by informers worse than they once were by their foes, insomuch that
several of them have wished that they had remained in a private station
rather than have had the glories of command. If, indeed, such perils and
terrors were of profit to the commonwealth, there would be reason in
undergoing them; but the very contrary is the case. Again, you will find
persons who have prayed for offspring, and when their prayers were heard,
have fallen into the greatest pains and sufferings. For some have begotten
children who were utterly bad, and have therefore passed all their days in
misery, while the parents of good children have undergone the misfortune of
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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 A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare: Rob. Then fate ore-rules, that one man holding troth,
A million faile, confounding oath on oath
Ob. About the wood, goe swifter then the winde,
And Helena of Athens looke thou finde.
All fancy sicke she is, and pale of cheere,
With sighes of loue, that costs the fresh bloud deare.
By some illusion see thou bring her heere,
Ile charme his eyes against she doth appeare
Robin. I go, I go, looke how I goe,
Swifter then arrow from the Tartars bowe.
Enter.
A Midsummer Night's Dream |
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 Betty Zane by Zane Grey: Betty drew rein at the top of the bank and looked absently at the tree and
into the foam covered pool beneath. At that moment her eyes saw nothing
physical. They held the faraway light of the dreamer, the look that sees so
much of the past and nothing of the present.
Presently her reflections were broken by the actions of the pony. Madcap had
thrown up her head, laid back her ears and commenced to paw the ground with
her forefeet. Betty looked round to see the cause of Madcap's excitement. What
was that! She saw a tall figure clad in brown leaning against the stone. She
saw a long fishing-rod. What was there so familiar in the poise of that
figure? Madcap dislodged a stone from the path and it went rattling down the
rock, slope and fell with a splash into the water. The man heard it, turned
Betty Zane |
