| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: very short time be reduced to slavery.
[15] Lit. "everybody to speak in turn."
[16] Or, "it is a counsel of perfection on their part to grant to,"
etc.
[17] Or, "the ideal state."
[18] Or, "and to govern and hold office."
[19] Or, "it will take the risk of that."
[20] See Grote, "H. G." v. p. 510 note.
Another point is the extraordinary amount of license[21] granted to
slaves and resident aliens at Athens, where a blow is illegal, and a
slave will not step aside to let you pass him in the street. I will
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: by Logan, containing portraits of King Charles II,
attended by Archbishop Sheldon, the Duke of Albermarle,
and the Earl of Clarendon. As portraits of these celebrities
(excepting, of course, the King) are extremely rare, collectors have
bought up this 40 tract of Atkyns', whenever it has been offered,
and torn away the frontispiece to adorn their collection.
This is why, if you take up any sale catalogue of old books,
you are certain to find here and there, appended to the description,
"Wanting the title," "Wanting two plates," or "Wanting
the last page."
It is quite common to find in old MSS., especially fifteenth century,
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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 Albert Savarus by Honore de Balzac: a woman as yet unbroken, sometimes struggling against her love, and at
other moments yielding and carried away by it. The old man certainly
behaved to her as a father to his daughter, and Francesca treated him
with a deeply felt gratitude which roused her instinctive nobleness.
The situation and the woman were to Rodolphe an impenetrable enigma,
of which the solution attracted him more and more.
These last days were full of secret joys, alternating with melancholy
moods, with tiffs and quarrels even more delightful than the hours
when Rodolphe and Francesca were of one mind. And he was more and more
fascinated by this tenderness apart from wit, always and in all things
the same, an affection that was jealous of mere nothings--already!
Albert Savarus |
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 The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum: what comes next."
Saying this, the Magician unlocked a drawer
of his cabinet and drew out a small book covered
with blue leather. Looking through the pages
he found the recipe he wanted and said: "I
must have a gill of water from a dark well."
"What kind of a well is that, sir?" asked the
boy.
"One where the light of day never penetrates.
The water must be put in a gold bottle and brought
to me without any light ever reaching it.
The Patchwork Girl of Oz |
