| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: its contents from the winter cold. Let us cut the wrapper with our
scissors. Underneath, we find a thick layer of reddish-brown silk,
not worked into a fabric this time, but puffed into an extra-fine
wadding. It is a fleecy cloud, an incomparable quilt, softer than
any swan's-down. This is the screen set up against loss of heat.
And what does this cosy mass protect? See: in the middle of the
eiderdown hangs a cylindrical pocket, round at the bottom, cut
square at the top and closed with a padded lid. It is made of
extremely fine satin; it contains the Epeira's eggs, pretty little
orange-coloured beads, which, glued together, form a globule the
size of a pea. This is the treasure to be defended against the
The Life of the Spider |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Oakdale Affair by Edgar Rice Burroughs: the ground. The girl and the youth, halting upon either
side, followed the direction of his eyes with theirs. The
girl gave a little, involuntary gasp, and the boy grasped
Bridge's hand as though fearful of losing him. The man
turned a quizzical glance at each of them and smiled,
though a bit ruefully.
"It beats me," he said.
"What can it be?" whispered the boy.
"Oh, let's go back," begged the girl.
"And go along to father with Burton?" asked Bridge.
The girl trembled and shook her head. "I would rather
The Oakdale Affair |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Euthyphro by Plato: being loved by all the gods. But you still refuse to explain to me the
nature of holiness. And therefore, if you please, I will ask you not to
hide your treasure, but to tell me once more what holiness or piety really
is, whether dear to the gods or not (for that is a matter about which we
will not quarrel); and what is impiety?
EUTHYPHRO: I really do not know, Socrates, how to express what I mean.
For somehow or other our arguments, on whatever ground we rest them, seem
to turn round and walk away from us.
SOCRATES: Your words, Euthyphro, are like the handiwork of my ancestor
Daedalus; and if I were the sayer or propounder of them, you might say that
my arguments walk away and will not remain fixed where they are placed
|
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 Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas: come alone to attack you, instead of at the head of twenty
men?"
"Undoubtedly," said Aramis, "and even at the head of his
twenty men, if I could have drawn without being recognized."
"God pardon me!" said D'Artagnan to himself, "I believe he
has become more Gascon than I am!" Then aloud: "Well, my
dear Aramis, do you ask me why I came to seek you?"
"No, I have not asked you that," said Aramis, with his
subtle manner; "but I have expected you to tell me."
"Well, I sought you for the single purpose of offering you a
chance to kill Monsieur de Marsillac whenever you please,
Twenty Years After |
