| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: He never even gave me a meal of green food or a bran mash,
which would have cooled me, for he was altogether as ignorant
as he was conceited; and then, instead of exercise or change of food,
I had to take horse balls and draughts; which, beside the nuisance
of having them poured down my throat, used to make me feel ill
and uncomfortable.
One day my feet were so tender that, trotting over some fresh stones
with my master on my back, I made two such serious stumbles that,
as he came down Lansdown into the city, he stopped at the farrier's,
and asked him to see what was the matter with me. The man took up my feet
one by one and examined them; then standing up and dusting his hands
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death by Patrick Henry: opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my
sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony.
The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country.
For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of
freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject
ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that
we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility
which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions
at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself
as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty
toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
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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 Four Arthurian Romances by Chretien DeTroyes: rise early, and dress, after which they prepare to start. Upon
leaving, they fail in no act of courtesy, but take leave of the
lady, her lord, and all the rest. But in order to omit nothing,
I must remark that the knight was unwilling to mount the borrowed
steed which was standing ready at the door; rather, he caused him
to be ridden by one of the two knights who had come with him,
while he took the latter's horse instead, for thus it pleased him
best to do. When each was seated on his horse, they all asked
for leave to depart from their host who had served them so
honourably. Then they ride along the road until the day draws to
a close, and late in the afternoon they reach the sword-bridge.
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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 Hiero by Xenophon: amateurs." See "Mem." III. viii. 7.
[13] Or, "each time it is brought home to him that," etc.
Nor does the tyrant attain the object of his heart's desire more
quickly than do humbler mortals theirs. For consider, what are their
objects of ambition? The private citizen has set his heart, it may be,
on a house, a farm, a servant. The tyrant hankers after cities, or
wide territory, or harbours, or formidable citadels, things far more
troublesome and more perilous to achieve than are the pettier
ambitions of lesser men.
And hence it is, moreover, that you will find but few[14] private
persons paupers by comparison with the large number of tyrants who
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