| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne: Marquisina has a right to the best apology I can make her, and that
opening is left for me to do it in; - so I ran and begg'd pardon
for the embarrassment I had given her, saying it was my intention
to have made her way. She answered, she was guided by the same
intention towards me; - so we reciprocally thank'd each other. She
was at the top of the stairs; and seeing no CICISBEO near her, I
begg'd to hand her to her coach; - so we went down the stairs,
stopping at every third step to talk of the concert and the
adventure. - Upon my word, Madame, said I, when I had handed her
in, I made six different efforts to let you go out. - And I made
six efforts, replied she, to let you enter. - I wish to heaven you
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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 Republic by Plato: has such an evil name, and to explain to them that not he, but those who
will not use him, are to blame for his uselessness. The philosopher should
not beg of mankind to be put in authority over them. The wise man should
not seek the rich, as the proverb bids, but every man, whether rich or
poor, must knock at the door of the physician when he has need of him. Now
the pilot is the philosopher--he whom in the parable they call star-gazer,
and the mutinous sailors are the mob of politicians by whom he is rendered
useless. Not that these are the worst enemies of philosophy, who is far
more dishonoured by her own professing sons when they are corrupted by the
world. Need I recall the original image of the philosopher? Did we not
say of him just now, that he loved truth and hated falsehood, and that he
The Republic |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs: once."
Tarzan made no articulate reply; but the two there with
him heard a low growl break from those firm lips -- a growl
that sent a shudder through the frame of the girl and brought
a pallor to the red face of the Hun and his hand to his pistol
but even as he drew his weapon it was wrested from him and
hurled through the blind and window to the yard beyond.
Then Tarzan backed against the door and slowly removed the
uniform coat.
"You are Hauptmann Schneider," he said to the German.
"What of it?" growled the latter.
Tarzan the Untamed |
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 Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: temper is at least all gone now; time is good at lowering these
distemperatures; far better is a sharp sickness, and I am just (and
scarce) afoot again after a smoking hot little malady at Sydney.
And the temper being gone, I still think the same. . . . We have
not our parents for ever; we are never very good to them; when they
go and we have lost our front-file man, we begin to feel all our
neglects mighty sensibly. I propose a proposal. My mother is here
on board with me; to-day for once I mean to make her as happy as I
am able, and to do that which I know she likes. You, on the other
hand, go and see your father, and do ditto, and give him a real
good hour or two. We shall both be glad hereafter. - Yours ever,
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