| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Euthydemus by Plato: them, and regulates our practice about them?
He assented.
Then in every possession and every use of a thing, knowledge is that which
gives a man not only good-fortune but success?
He again assented.
And tell me, I said, O tell me, what do possessions profit a man, if he
have neither good sense nor wisdom? Would a man be better off, having and
doing many things without wisdom, or a few things with wisdom? Look at the
matter thus: If he did fewer things would he not make fewer mistakes? if
he made fewer mistakes would he not have fewer misfortunes? and if he had
fewer misfortunes would he not be less miserable?
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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 Tapestried Chamber by Walter Scott: "Richard Browne, my old and very dear friend, we are now alone.
Let me conjure you to answer me upon the word of a friend, and
the honour of a soldier. How did you in reality rest during last
night?"
"Most wretchedly indeed, my lord," answered the General, in the
same tone of solemnity--"so miserably, that I would not run the
risk of such a second night, not only for all the lands
belonging to this castle, but for all the country which I see
from this elevated point of view."
"This is most extraordinary," said the young lord, as if speaking
to himself; "then there must be something in the reports
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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 The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter: For the next twenty minutes Mr.
Tod kept creeping cautiously into
the house, and retreating hurriedly
out again. By degrees he ventured
further in--right into the bed-
room. When he was outside the
house, he scratched up the earth
with fury. But when he was inside
--he did not like the look of
Tommy Brock's teeth.
He was lying on his back with his
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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 Betty Zane by Zane Grey: are married I will go back to the Wyandot village."
Myeerah's eyes softened with unutterable love. With a quick cry she was in his
arms. After a few moments of forgetfulness Myeerah spoke to Thundercloud and
waved her hand toward the west. The chief swung himself over his horse,
shouted a single command, and rode down the bank into the water. His warriors
followed him, wading their horses into the shallow creek, with never backward
look. When the last rider had disappeared in the willows the lovers turned
their horses eastward.
CHAPTER X.
It was near the close of a day in early summer. A small group of persons
surrounded Col. Zane where he sat on his doorstep. From time to time he took
Betty Zane |
