| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Letters from England by Elizabeth Davis Bancroft: very conjugal style.
There were three tables the whole length of the hall, and that at
which we were placed went across at the head. When we are placed,
the herald stands behind the Lord Mayor and cries: "My Lords,
Ladies, and Gentlemen, pray silence, for grace." Then the chaplain
in his gown, goes behind the Lord Mayor and says grace. After the
second course two large gold cups, nearly two feet high, are placed
before the Mayor and Mayoress. The herald then cries with a loud
voice: "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the American
Minister, the Lord Chief Baron," etc., etc. (enumerating about a
dozen of the most distinguished guests), "and ladies and gentlemen
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: the government storehouses, which they saw close to the landing-
place, and then fighting their way back to their boats, and out of
the roadstead. Two hours would suffice if the armada and the
galleys were but once out of the way.
Amyas went forward, called the men together, and told them the
plan. It was not very cheerfully received: but what else was there
to be done!
They ran down about a mile and a half to the westward, and
anchored.
The night wore on, and there was no sign of stir among the
shipping; for though they could not see the vessels themselves, yet
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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 Disputation of the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther: morituris secundum eosdem debet imponi.
9. Inde bene nobis facit spiritussanctus in papa excipiendo in
suis decretis semper articulum mortis et necessitatis.
10. Indocte et male faciunt sacerdotes ii, qui morituris
penitentias canonicas in purgatorium reservant.
11. Zizania illa de mutanda pena Canonica in penam purgatorii
videntur certe dormientibus episcopis seminata.
12. Olim pene canonice non post, sed ante absolutionem
imponebantur tanquam tentamenta vere contritionis.
13. Morituri per mortem omnia solvunt et legibus canonum mortui
iam sunt, habentes iure earum relaxationem.
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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 Philebus by Plato: of need.
PROTARCHUS: Tell us what that is.
SOCRATES: One which may be easily pointed out, but is by no means easy of
application; it is the parent of all the discoveries in the arts.
PROTARCHUS: Tell us what it is.
SOCRATES: A gift of heaven, which, as I conceive, the gods tossed among
men by the hands of a new Prometheus, and therewith a blaze of light; and
the ancients, who were our betters and nearer the gods than we are, handed
down the tradition, that whatever things are said to be are composed of one
and many, and have the finite and infinite implanted in them: seeing,
then, that such is the order of the world, we too ought in every enquiry to
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