| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Confessio Amantis by John Gower: Of stronge chenes hath hem bounde,
As he togedre hem hadde founde,
And lefte hem bothe ligge so,
And gan to clepe and crie tho
Unto the goddes al aboute;
And thei assembled in a route
Come alle at ones forto se.
Bot none amendes hadde he,
Bot was rebuked hiere and there
Of hem that loves frendes were; 690
And seiden that he was to blame,
Confessio Amantis |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lair of the White Worm by Bram Stoker: "I heard Lady Arabella's invitation to you to come to Diana's
Grove."
"Well, what on earth has that got to do with it?"
"Nothing directly that I know of. But we shall see." Adam waited,
and the old man went on: "Have you by any chance heard the other
name which was given long ago to that place."
"No, sir."
"It was called-- Look here, this subject wants a lot of talking
over. Suppose we wait till we are alone and have lots of time
before us."
"All right, sir." Adam was filled with curiosity, but he thought it
Lair of the White Worm |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tour Through Eastern Counties of England by Daniel Defoe: N.B. - Pray take it with you, as you go, you see no ladies at
Newmarket, except a few of the neighbouring gentlemen's families,
who come in their coaches on any particular day to see a race, and
so go home again directly.
As I was pleasing myself with what was to be seen here, I went in
the intervals of the sport to see the fine seats of the gentlemen
in the neighbouring county, for this part of Suffolk, being an open
champaign country and a healthy air, is formed for pleasure and all
kinds of country diversion, Nature, as it were, inviting the
gentlemen to visit her where she was fully prepared to receive
them, in conformity to which kind summons they came, for the
|
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 Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: "Nay," said Myles, "I knew it not. But I am right glad to hear
it."
"Thou wilt sing a different song anon," said one of the
bachelors. "I tell thee he is hot against thee, and swears when
he cometh again he will carve thee soothly."
"Aye, marry!" said another. "I would not be in thy skin a week
hence for a ducat! Only this morning he told Philip Mowbray that
he would have thy blood for the fall thou gavest him. Look to
thyself, Falworth; he cometh again Wednesday or Thursday next;
thou standest in a parlous state."
"Myles," said Gascoyne, as they entered the great quadrangle, "I
Men of Iron |
