| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Iliad by Homer: singleness of heart stood firm about the son of Menoetius, and
fenced him with their bronze shields. Jove, moreover, hid the
brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud, for he had borne no
grudge against the son of Menoetius while he was still alive and
squire to the descendant of Aeacus; therefore he was loth to let
him fall a prey to the dogs of his foes the Trojans, and urged
his comrades on to defend him.
At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they withdrew
from the dead man daunted. The Trojans did not succeed in killing
any one, nevertheless they drew the body away. But the Achaeans
did not lose it long, for Ajax, foremost of all the Danaans after
The Iliad |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce: a velocity of advance and gyration that made him giddy and
sick. In few moments he was flung upon the gravel at the
foot of the left bank of the stream -- the southern bank --
and behind a projecting point which concealed him from his
enemies. The sudden arrest of his motion, the abrasion of
one of his hands on the gravel, restored him, and he wept
with delight. He dug his fingers into the sand, threw it
over himself in handfuls and audibly blessed it. It looked
like diamonds, rubies, emeralds; he could think of nothing
beautiful which it did not resemble. The trees upon the bank
were giant garden plants; he noted a definite order in their
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Adieu by Honore de Balzac: "Help! help!" and then endeavored to revive the colonel. At the sound
of the shot, the unknown woman, who had hitherto stood motionless,
fled away with the rapidity of an arrow, uttering cries of fear like a
wounded animal, and running hither and thither about the meadow with
every sign of the greatest terror.
Monsieur d'Albon, hearing the rumbling of a carriage on the high-road
to Ile-Adam, waved his handkerchief and shouted to its occupants for
assistance. The carriage was immediately driven up to the old
monastery, and the marquis recognized his neighbors, Monsieur and
Madame de Granville, who at once gave up their carriage to the service
of the two gentlemen. Madame de Granville had with her, by chance, a
|
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 Koran: On the day when they shall be thrust away into the fire of
hell,-'This is the fire, the which ye used to call a lie!-Is it magic,
this? or can ye not see?-broil ye therein, and be patient thereof or
be not patient, it is the same to you: ye are but rewarded for that
which ye did do!'
Verily, the pious (shall be) in gardens and pleasure, enjoying
what their Lord has given them; for their Lord will save them from the
torment of hell.
'Eat and drink with good digestion, for that which ye have done!'
Reclining on couches in rows; and we will wed them to large-eyed
maids.
The Koran |
