| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: thanks? I will begin with the most trifling[6] examples; and first a
simple friendly salutation, "Good day," "Good evening," dropped at
sight of some one from the lips of here a ruler, there a private
citizen. In such a case, whose salutation will sound the pleasanter to
him accosted?
[3] {to arkhein}. Cf. "Cyrop." passim.
[4] "A private person."
[5] Lit. "by like expenditure of power."
[6] {arkhomai soi}. Lit. "I'll begin you with quite commonplace
examples." Holden cf. Shakesp. "Merry Wives," i. 4. 97, "I'll do
you your master what good I can"; "Much Ado," ii. 3. 115, "She
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from My Antonia by Willa Cather: Antonia needed shoes more than Mr. Shimerda needed prayers,
but grandfather said tolerantly, `If he can spare six dollars,
pinched as he is, it shows he believes what he professes.'
It was grandfather who brought about a reconciliation with the Shimerdas.
One morning he told us that the small grain was coming on so well,
he thought he would begin to cut his wheat on the first of July.
He would need more men, and if it were agreeable to everyone he would
engage Ambrosch for the reaping and threshing, as the Shimerdas had no
small grain of their own.
`I think, Emmaline,' he concluded, `I will ask Antonia to come over
and help you in the kitchen. She will be glad to earn something,
My Antonia |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy: a powerful challenge, at odds, and split asunder.
To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free:
we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not
have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny.
We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view.
But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their
own freedom. . .and to remember that. . .in the past. . .those who
foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe
struggling to break the bonds of mass misery: we pledge our best
efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period
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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 Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: "Then tell the men that we start in an hour's time. Win over the
Pelicans, Yeo and Drew; and the rest must follow, like sheep over a
hedge."
The Pelicans, and the liberated galley-slaves, joined the project
at once; but the rest gave Amyas a stormy hour. The great question
was, where were the hills? In that dense mangrove thicket they
could not see fifty yards before them.
"The hills are not three miles to the south-west of you at this
moment," said Amyas. "I marked every shoulder of them as we ran
in."
"I suppose you meant to take us there?"
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