| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: unintelligent commentary of the judge upon the bench,
combined to disgust him of the business. I was so
extraordinarily fortunate as to find, in an old newspaper, a
report of the proceedings in Lyall v. The Cardiff Mutual
Accommodation Banking Co. "I confess I fail entirely to
understand the nature of the business," the judge had remarked,
while Trent was being examined in chief; a little after, on fuller
information--"They call it a bank," he had opined, "but it seems
to me to be an unlicensed pawnshop"; and he wound up with
this appalling allocution: "Mr. Trent, I must put you on your
guard; you must be very careful, or we shall see you here
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 2 by Alexis de Toqueville: please. The consequence is, that among aristocratic nations, no
one can hope to succeed without immense exertions, and that these
exertions may bestow a great deal of fame, but can never earn
much money; whilst among democratic nations, a writer may flatter
himself that he will obtain at a cheap rate a meagre reputation
and a large fortune. For this purpose he need not be admired; it
is enough that he is liked. The ever-increasing crowd of
readers, and their continual craving for something new, insure
the sale of books which nobody much esteems.
In democratic periods the public frequently treat authors as
kings do their courtiers; they enrich, and they despise them.
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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: night; and no more will he who comes after me, till the
golden fleece be brought home.'
Then he told Jason the story of Phrixus, and of the golden
fleece; and told him, too, which was a lie, that Phrixus'
spirit tormented him, calling to him day and night. And his
daughters came, and told the same tale (for their father had
taught them their parts), and wept, and said, 'Oh who will
bring home the golden fleece, that our uncle's spirit may
rest; and that we may have rest also, whom he never lets
sleep in peace?'
Jason sat awhile, sad and silent; for he had often heard of
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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 Droll Stories, V. 1 by Honore de Balzac: "Monseigneur, I'm here to confess Madame."
"Oh, oh, do you not know the canons? To confess the ladies at this
time of night is a right reserved to bishops, so take yourself off; go
and herd with simple monks, and never come back here again under pain
of excommunication."
"Do not move," cried the blushing Imperia, more lovely with passion
than she was with love, because now she was possessed both with
passion and love. "Stop, my friend. Here you are in your own house."
Then he knew that he was really loved by her.
"It is it not in the breviary, and an evangelical regulation, that you
should be equal with God in the valley of Jehoshaphat?" asked she of
Droll Stories, V. 1 |
