| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Economist by Xenophon: Who does not know, for instance, that in marching through a hostile
territory an army ought to march in the order best adapted to deliver
battle with effect should need arise?[5]--a golden rule which,
punctually obeyed by some, is disobeyed by others. Again, as all the
world knows, it is better to place day and night pickets[6] in front
of an encampment. Yet even that is a procedure which, carefully
observed at times, is at times as carelessly neglected. Once more: not
one man in ten thousand,[7] I suppose, but knows that when a force is
marching through a narrow defile, the safer method is to occupy
beforehand certain points of vantage.[8] Yet this precaution also has
been known to be neglected.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Tapestried Chamber by Walter Scott: heard to a preternatural distance, and resembled the cry of a
dying lion more than a human sound.
His friends received him in their arms as he sank utterly
exhausted by the effort, and bore him back to his castle in mute
sorrow; while his daughter at once wept for her brother, and
endeavoured to mitigate and soothe the despair of her father.
But this was impossible; the old man's only tie to life was rent
rudely asunder, and his heart had broken with it. The death of
his son had no part in his sorrow. If he thought of him at all,
it was as the degenerate boy through whom the honour of his
country and clan had been lost; and he died in the course of
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Margret Howth: A Story of To-day by Rebecca Harding Davis: "Father, look here."
She put her misshapen head and scarred face down on his hand,
where he could see them. If it had ever hurt her to be as she
was, if she had ever compared herself bitterly with fair, beloved
women, she was glad now, and thankful, for every fault and
deformity that brought her nearer to him, and made her dearer.
"They're kind, but ther' 's not many loves me with true love,
like yoh. Stay, father! Bear it out, whatever it be. Th' good
time 'll come, father."
He kissed her, saying nothing, and went with her down the street.
When he left her, she waited, and, creeping back, hid near the
Margret Howth: A Story of To-day |
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 Confidence by Henry James: but she won't come.' 'On the contrary, she says she will.'
'She will pretend to, up to the last minute; and then she
will find a pretext for backing out.' 'Decidedly, you think
very ill of her,' I said. 'She hates me,' he answered,
looking at me strangely. 'You say that of every one,' I said.
'Yesterday you said it of Bernard.' 'Ah, for him there would
be more reason!' he exclaimed. 'I won't attempt to answer
for Bernard,' I went on, 'but I will answer for Blanche.
Your idea of her hating you is a miserable delusion.
She cares for you more than for any one in the world.
You only misunderstand each other, and with a little good
|
