| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: to guess. "Because," I added, "if my surmises are correct, and if I have
well understood the Captain's existence, the Nautilus is not only a vessel:
it is also a place of refuge for those who, like its commander, have broken
every tie upon earth."
"Perhaps so," said Conseil; "but, in any case, the Nautilus can only contain
a certain number of men. Could not you, sir, estimate their maximum?"
"How, Conseil?"
"By calculation; given the size of the vessel, which you know, sir,
and consequently the quantity of air it contains, knowing also how much
each man expends at a breath, and comparing these results with the fact
that the Nautilus is obliged to go to the surface every twenty-four hours."
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: reckoning' (as I say to your face you never did, Master
Tressilian--not that you have had cause), 'one who knows not why
he came, so far as I can see, or when he is going away; and wilt
thou, being a publican, having paid scot and lot these thirty
years in the town of Cumnor, and being at this instant head-
borough, wilt thou suffer this guest of guests, this man of men,
this six-hooped pot (as I may say) of a traveller, to fall into
the meshes of thy nephew, who is known for a swasher and a
desperate Dick, a carder and a dicer, a professor of the seven
damnable sciences, if ever man took degrees in them?' No, by
Heaven! I might wink, and let him catch such a small butterfly
Kenilworth |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from King James Bible: to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
EST 6:13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing
that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto
him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun
to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall
before him.
EST 6:14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's
chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had
prepared.
EST 7:1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
EST 7:2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the
King James Bible |
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 Kenilworth by Walter Scott: Summer Progress unto your lordship's most beautiful and all-to-
be-unmatched Castle of Kenilworth."
"To what purpose, good Master Laneham?" replied the Earl;
"bethink you, my guests must needs be many."
"Not so many," replied the petitioner, "but that your nobleness
will willingly spare your old servitor his crib and his mess.
Bethink you, my lord, how necessary is this rod of mine to fright
away all those listeners, who else would play at bo-peep with the
honourable council, and be searching for keyholes and crannies in
the door of the chamber, so as to render my staff as needful as a
fly-flap in a butcher's shop."
Kenilworth |
