| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche: of which the rarest charm would be that it knew nothing more of
good and evil; only that here and there perhaps some sailor's
home-sickness, some golden shadows and tender weaknesses might
sweep lightly over it; an art which, from the far distance, would
see the colours of a sinking and almost incomprehensible MORAL
world fleeing towards it, and would be hospitable enough and
profound enough to receive such belated fugitives.
256. Owing to the morbid estrangement which the nationality-craze
has induced and still induces among the nations of Europe, owing
also to the short-sighted and hasty-handed politicians, who with
the help of this craze, are at present in power, and do not
Beyond Good and Evil |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from In the Cage by Henry James: continued and abode with her, was in everything she did till
nightfall, in the thousands of other words she counted, she
transmitted, in all the stamps she detached and the letters she
weighed and the change she gave, equally unconscious and unerring
in each of these particulars, and not, as the run on the little
office thickened with the afternoon hours, looking up at a single
ugly face in the long sequence, nor really hearing the stupid
questions that she patiently and perfectly answered. All patience
was possible now, all questions were stupid after his, all faces
were ugly. She had been sure she should see the lady again; and
even now she should perhaps, she should probably, see her often.
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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 My Aunt Margaret's Mirror by Walter Scott: and tell me once more whether you have courage to look on what I
am prepared to show?"
"I own, sir," said Lady Bothwell, "that your words strike me with
some sense of fear; but whatever my sister desires to witness, I
will not shrink from witnessing along with her."
"Nay, the danger only consists in the risk of your resolution
failing you. The sight can only last for the space of seven
minutes; and should you interrupt the vision by speaking a single
word, not only would the charm be broken, but some danger might
result to the spectators. But if you can remain steadily silent
for the seven minutes, your curiosity will be gratified without
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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 Herodias by Gustave Flaubert: dungeon. This execution would be a relief, he thought. In a few
moments all would be over!
But for once Mannaeus did not perform a commission satisfactorily. He
left the hall but soon returned, in a state of great perturbation.
During forty years he had exercised the functions of the public
executioner. It was he that had drowned Aristobulus, strangled
Alexander, burned Mattathias alive, beheaded Zozimus, Pappus,
Josephus, and Antipater; but he dared not kill Iaokanann! His teeth
chattered and his whole body trembled.
He declared that he had seen, standing before the dungeon, the Angel
of the Samaritans, covered with eyes and brandishing a great sword,
Herodias |
