| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from In the Cage by Henry James: still to repeat to her the two words she had in the Park scarcely
let him bring out. "See here--see here!"--the sound of these two
words had been with her perpetually; but it was in her ears to-day
without mercy, with a loudness that grew and grew. What was it
they then expressed? what was it he had wanted her to see? She
seemed, whatever it was, perfectly to see it now--to see that if
she should just chuck the whole thing, should have a great and
beautiful courage, he would somehow make everything up to her.
When the clock struck five she was on the very point of saying to
Mr. Buckton that she was deadly ill and rapidly getting worse.
This announcement was on her lips, and she had quite composed the
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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 Art of War by Sun Tzu: the words: "If I fight, I conquer." [63] And Jan Yu also
said: "The Sage exercises both civil and military
functions." [64] Can it be a fact that Confucius never
studied or received instruction in the art of war? We can
only say that he did not specially choose matters connected
with armies and fighting to be the subject of his teaching.
Sun Hsing-yen, the editor of Sun Tzu, writes in similar
strain: --
Confucius said: "I am unversed in military matters."
[65] He also said: "If I fight, I conquer." Confucius
ordered ceremonies and regulated music. Now war constitutes
The Art of War |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: was past remission, determined on joining Robin Hood, and accompanied him
to the forest, where it was deemed expedient that he should change his name;
and he was rechristened without a priest, and with wine instead of water,
by the immortal name of Scarlet.
CHAPTER IX
Who set my man i' the stocks?----
I set him there, Sir but his own disorders
Deserved much less advancement.--Lear.
The baron was inflexible in his resolution not to let Matilda leave
the castle. The letter, which announced to her the approaching
fate of young Gamwell, filled her with grief, and increased
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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 Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner: May such often return. The Lord bless you!" he added, with yet deeper
fervour, "richly, richly."
Then he opened the door and vanished out into the darkness.
"He, he, he!" laughed Bonaparte, as he stumbled over the stones. "If there
isn't the rarest lot of fools on this farm that ever God Almighty stuck
legs to. He, he, he! When the worms come out then the blackbirds feed.
Ha, ha, ha!" Then he drew himself up; even when alone he liked to pose
with a certain dignity; it was second nature to him.
He looked in at the kitchen door. The Hottentot maid who acted as
interpreter between Tant Sannie and himself was gone, and Tant Sannie
herself was in bed.
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