| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: democratic party has been enslaved, as for instance in Boeotia;[20]
or, as when they chose the aristocrats of the Milesians, and within a
short time these revolted and cut the people to pieces; or, as when
they chose the Lacedaemonians as against the Messenians, and within a
short time the Lacedaemonians subjugated the Messenians and went to
war against Athens.
[19] I.e. "birds of a feather."
[20] The references are perhaps (1) to the events of the year 447
B.C., see Thuc. i. 113; cf. Aristot. "Pol." v. 3, 5; (2) to 440
B.C., Thuc. i. 115; Diod. xii. 27, 28; Plut. "Pericl." c. 24; (3)
to those of 464 B.C., followed by 457 B.C., Thuc. i. 102; Plut.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: While we exchanged these words I had retrieved the quilted, blue
slippers and had put them on her feet. She was very tractable.
Then taking her by the arm I led her towards the door.
"He has killed me," she repeated in a sigh. "The little joy that
was in me."
"He has tried to kill himself out there in the hall," I said. She
put back like a frightened child but she couldn't be dragged on as
a child can be.
I assured her that the man was no longer there but she only
repeated, "I can't get through the hall. I can't walk. I can't .
. ."
The Arrow of Gold |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Albert Savarus by Honore de Balzac: His speech struck the Court and the jury. One of these, a merchant,
placed a difficult case next day in the hands of Monsieur Savaron, and
he won it. In the position in which we found ourselves, Monsieur
Berryer finding it impossible to come to Besancon, Monsieur de
Garcenault advised him to employ this Monsieur Albert Savaron,
foretelling our success. As soon as I saw him and heard him, I felt
faith in him, and I was not wrong."
"Is he then so extraordinary?" asked Madame de Chavoncourt.
"Certainly, madame," replied the Vicar-General.
"Well, tell us about it," said Madame de Watteville.
"The first time I saw him," said the Abbe de Grancey, "he received me
Albert Savarus |
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 The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: shadow, allowing his kindly, gentle spirit to shine through. He was nervous,
and had a timid manner. Edwards was his opposite, being a man of robust frame,
with a heavy face, and a manner that would have suggested self-confidence in
another man.
They were true and tried friends.
"Dave, I couldn't ask her," said Young, trembling at the very thought.
"Besides, there's no hope for me. I know it. That's why I'm afraid, why I
don't want to ask her. What'd such a glorious creature see in a poor, puny
little thing like me?"
"George, you're not over-handsome," admitted Dave, shaking his head. "But you
can never tell about women. Sometimes they like even little, insignificant
The Spirit of the Border |
