| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: "Then exchange clothing with me at once," cried the
king, half rising from his cot.
"Not so fast, my friend," rejoined the American. "There
are a few trifling details to be arranged before we resume
our proper personalities."
"Do you realize that you should be hanged for what you
have done?" snarled the king. "You assaulted me, stole my
clothing, left me here to be shot by Peter, and sat upon my
throne in Lustadt while I lay a prisoner condemned to
death."
"And do you realize," replied Barney, "that by so doing
The Mad King |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Distinguished Provincial at Paris by Honore de Balzac: cheek by jowl with gallows-birds. There was something indescribably
piquant about the anomalous assemblage; the most insensible of men
felt its charm, so much so, that, until the very last moment, Paris
came hither to walk up and down on the wooden planks laid over the
cellars where men were at work on the new buildings; and when the
squalid wooden erections were finally taken down, great and unanimous
regret was felt.
Ladvocat the bookseller had opened a shop but a few days since in the
angle formed by the central passage which crossed the galleries; and
immediately opposite another bookseller, now forgotten, Dauriat, a
bold and youthful pioneer, who opened up the paths in which his rival
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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 Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare: Then be my deer, since I am such a park; 239
No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark.'
At this Adonis smiles as in disdain,
That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple:
Love made those hollows, if himself were slain,
He might be buried in a tomb so simple; 244
Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie,
Why, there Love liv'd, and there he could not die.
These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits,
Open'd their mouths to swallow Venus' liking. 248
Being mad before, how doth she now for wits?
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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 The Koran: wrong-doers!' They said, 'We heard a youth mention them who is
called Abraham.'
Said they, 'Then bring him before the eyes of men; haply they will
bear witness.'
Said they, 'Was it thou who did this to our gods, O Abraham?' Said
he, 'Nay, it was this largest of them; but ask them, if they can
speak.'
Then they came to themselves and said, 'Verily, ye are the
wrong-doers.' Then they turned upside down again: 'Thou knewest that
these cannot speak.'
Said he, 'Will ye then serve, beside God, what cannot profit you
The Koran |
