| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from New Poems by Robert Louis Stevenson: Had rather hear you praise
This bosomful of songs
Than that the whole, hard world with one consent,
In one continuous chorus of applause
Poured forth for me and mine
The homage of ripe praise.
I write the finis here against my love,
This is my love's last epitaph and tomb.
Here the road forks, and I
Go my way, far from yours.
THE OLD CHIMAERAS, OLD RECEIPTS
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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 Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: here."
"You won't find me here long," he replied. "King Pandion he is
dead; all his friends are lapped in lead. For men of our
antiquity, the poor old shop is played out."
"I have had playmates, I have had companions," I quoted in
return. We were both moved, I think, to meet again in this
scene of our old pleasure parties so unexpectedly, after so long
an interval, and both already so much altered.
"That is the sentiment," he replied. "All, all are gone, the old
familiar faces. I have been here a week, and the only living
creature who seemed to recollect me was the Pharaon. Bar the
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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 The Symposium by Xenophon: but water, just because it is liquid, quenches fire. But no more do
these same marvels tend to promote the object of the wine-cup.[2]
[1] Cf. "Mem." IV. vii. 7. Socrates' criticism of Anaxagoras' theory
with regard to the sun.
[2] Lit. "work to the same end as wine."
But now, supposing your young people yonder were to tread a measure to
the flute, some pantomime in dance, like those which the Graces and
the Hours with the Nymphs are made to tread in pictures,[3] I think
they would spend a far more happy time themselves, and our banquet
would at once assume a grace and charm unlooked for.
[3] Cf. Plat. "Laws," vii. 815 C; Hor. "Carm." i. 4. 6:
The Symposium |
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 Silas Marner by George Eliot: nature; and the good-humoured, affectionate-hearted Godfrey Cass was
fast becoming a bitter man, visited by cruel wishes, that seemed to
enter, and depart, and enter again, like demons who had found in him
a ready-garnished home.
What was he to do this evening to pass the time? He might as well
go to the Rainbow, and hear the talk about the cock-fighting:
everybody was there, and what else was there to be done? Though,
for his own part, he did not care a button for cock-fighting.
Snuff, the brown spaniel, who had placed herself in front of him,
and had been watching him for some time, now jumped up in impatience
for the expected caress. But Godfrey thrust her away without
Silas Marner |
