| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Dawn O'Hara, The Girl Who Laughed by Edna Ferber: forever telling one how unusually thin, or pale, or
scrawny one is looking."
"Na, they are not to be satisfied, these women! If
I were to tell you how lovely you look to me to-night you
would draw yourself up with chill dignity and remind me
that I am not privileged to say these things to you. So
I discreetly mention that you are looking, interestingly
pale, taking care to keep all tenderness out of my tones,
and still you are not pleased." He shrugged despairing
shoulders.
"Can't you strike a happy medium between rudeness
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Faraday as a Discoverer by John Tyndall: its own course. This would indeed be a creation of power, and is
like no other force in nature. We have many processes by which the
form of the power may be so changed, that an apparent conversion of
one into the other takes place. So we can change chemical force
into the electric current, or the current into chemical force.
The beautiful experiments of Seebeck and Peltier show the convertibility
of heat and electricity; and others by Oersted and myself show the
convertibility of electricity and magnetism. But in no case, not
even in those of the Gymnotus and Torpedo, is there a pure creation
or a production of power without a corresponding exhaustion of
something to supply it.'
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Love Songs by Sara Teasdale: But oh, to him I loved,
Who loved me not at all,
I owe the open gate
That led through heaven's wall.
Faults
They came to tell your faults to me,
They named them over one by one;
I laughed aloud when they were done,
I knew them all so well before, --
Oh, they were blind, too blind to see
Your faults had made me love you more.
|
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 Aeneid by Virgil: That your slain friends may fun'ral rites receive."
Thus having said- th' embassadors, amaz'd,
Stood mute a while, and on each other gaz'd.
Drances, their chief, who harbor'd in his breast
Long hate to Turnus, as his foe profess'd,
Broke silence first, and to the godlike man,
With graceful action bowing, thus began:
"Auspicious prince, in arms a mighty name,
But yet whose actions far transcend your fame;
Would I your justice or your force express,
Thought can but equal; and all words are less.
Aeneid |
