| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: common to all mankind?
Yes, certainly, Socrates, he said.
Then, I said, be cheerful, sweet sir, and give your opinion in answer to
the question which I asked, never minding whether Critias or Socrates is
the person refuted; attend only to the argument, and see what will come of
the refutation.
I think that you are right, he replied; and I will do as you say.
Tell me, then, I said, what you mean to affirm about wisdom.
I mean to say that wisdom is the only science which is the science of
itself as well as of the other sciences.
But the science of science, I said, will also be the science of the absence
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Case of the Golden Bullet by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: through the basket again and found a little box in which were
several pair of grey suede gloves, fastened by bluish mother-of-pearl
buttons. One of the pairs had been worn, and a button was missing.
"These are the ones I was looking for," said the peddler, putting
the gloves in his pocket. Then he continued: "Your mistress was
rather fond of taking long walks by herself, wasn't she?"
The girl's pale face flushed hotly and she stammered: "You know
- about it?"
"You know about it also, I see. And did you know everything?"
"Yes, everything," murmured Nanette.
"Then it was you and Tristan who accompanied the lady on her walks?"
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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 Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: turning my head I discovered that the man was in conversation with
a woman whom he had met at the head of the path that ran down to
the water-gate. Doubtless it was a lovers' meeting, and since such
sights are of interest to all, and more especially to the young, I
watched the pair. Soon I learned that there was little of
tenderness in this tryst, at least on the part of the gallant, who
drew continually backwards toward me as though he would seek the
boat by which doubtless he had come, and I marvelled at this, for
the moonlight shone upon the woman's face, and even at that
distance I could see that it was very fair. The man's face I could
not see however, since his back was towards me for the most part,
Montezuma's Daughter |
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 Research Magnificent by H. G. Wells: would not even banish him from her side. Surely the Cheetah could
trust her. But the pitiless facts of Lady Marayne went beyond
Amanda's explaining. The little lady's dignity had been stricken.
"I have been used as a cloak," she wrote.
Her phrases were vivid. She quoted the very words of Amanda, words
she had overheard at Chexington in the twilight. They were no
invention. They were the very essence of Amanda, the lover. It was
as sure as if Benham had heard the sound of her voice, as if he had
peeped and seen, as if she had crept by him, stooping and rustling
softly. It brought back the living sense of her, excited, flushed,
reckless; his wild-haired Amanda of infinite delight. . . . All day
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