| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: "You forget," he said, "that they are but thin air--
figments of my brain. They will vanish, unscathed, when
we have no further need for them. Praised be your
first ancestor, redman, that you thought of this chance
in time! It would never have occurred to me to imagine
that I might wield the same power that brought me into
existence."
"You are right," said Carthoris. "Still, I hate to
leave them, though there is naught else to do," and so
the two turned from the courtyard, and making their way
into one of the broad avenues, crept stealthily in the
Thuvia, Maid of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: Note.
{32} Cf. Social Life in the Insect World, by J. H. Fabre,
translated by Bernard Miall: chap. xiv.--Translator's Note.
{33} Cf. Insect Life, by J. H. Fabre, translated by the author of
Mademoiselle Mori: chap. v.--Translator's Note.
{34} The Scolia is a Digger-wasp, like the Cerceris and the Sphex,
and feeds her larvae on the grubs of the Cetonia, or Rose-chafer,
and the Oryctes, or Rhinoceros Beetle. Cf. The Life and Love of
the Insect, by J. Henri Fabre, translated by Alexander Teixeira de
Mattos: chap. xi.--Translator's Note.
{35} Cf. Social Life in the Insect World, by J. H. Fabre,
The Life of the Spider |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from First Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln: that it will be much safer for all, both in official and private stations,
to conform to and abide by all those acts which stand unrepealed,
than to violate any of them, trusting to find impunity in having
them held to be unConstitutional.
It is seventy-two years since the first inauguration of a President
under our national Constitution. During that period fifteen different
and greatly distinguished citizens have, in succession, administered
the executive branch of the government. They have conducted it through
many perils, and generally with great success. Yet, with all this scope
of precedent, I now enter upon the same task for the brief Constitutional
term of four years under great and peculiar difficulty. A disruption of
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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 Poems by Oscar Wilde: Whose love of Thee for all her sin atones?
For here the air is horrid with men's groans,
The priests who call upon Thy name are slain,
Dost Thou not hear the bitter wail of pain
From those whose children lie upon the stones?
Come down, O Son of God! incestuous gloom
Curtains the land, and through the starless night
Over Thy Cross a Crescent moon I see!
If Thou in very truth didst burst the tomb
Come down, O Son of Man! and show Thy might
Lest Mahomet be crowned instead of Thee!
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