| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Chronicles of the Canongate by Walter Scott: beef to be placed before the Scot in the butler's pantry,
together with a foaming tankard of home-brewed, and took pleasure
in seeing the hearty appetite with which these unwonted edibles
were discussed by Robin Oig M'Combich. The Squire himself
lighting his pipe, compounded between his patrician dignity and
his love of agricultural gossip, by walking up and down while he
conversed with his guest.
"I passed another drove," said the Squire, with one of your
countrymen behind them. They were something less beasts than
your drove--doddies most of them. A big man was with them. None
of your kilts, though, but a decent pair of breeches. D'ye know
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: oppidum cingit, reliquum spatium, quod est non amplius pedum MDC, qua
flumen intermittit, mons continet magna altitudine, ita ut radices eius
montis ex utraque parte ripae fluminis contingant, hunc murus circumdatus
arcem efficit et cum oppido coniungit. Huc Caesar magnis nocturnis
diurnisque itineribus contendit occupatoque oppido ibi praesidium
conlocat.
Dum paucos dies ad Vesontionem rei frumentariae commeatusque causa
moratur, ex percontatione nostrorum vocibusque Gallorum ac mercatorum, qui
ingenti magnitudine corporum Germanos, incredibili virtute atque
exercitatione in armis esse praedicabant (saepe numero sese cum his
congressos ne vultum quidem atque aciem oculorum dicebant ferre potuisse),
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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 Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte: matter, really: he'll be all right when he's married, as mamma
says; and reformed rakes make the best husbands, EVERYBODY knows.
I only wish he were not so ugly - THAT'S all I think about: but
then there's no choice here in the country; and papa WILL NOT let
us go to London - '
'But I should think Mr. Hatfield would be far better.'
'And so he would, if he were lord of Ashby Park - there's not a
doubt of it: but the fact is, I MUST have Ashby Park, whoever
shares it with me.'
'But Mr. Hatfield thinks you like him all this time; you don't
consider how bitterly he will be disappointed when he finds himself
Agnes Grey |
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 Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson: For, call it lovers' quarrels, yet I know
Though men may bicker with the things they love,
They would not make them laughable in all eyes,
Not while they loved them; and your wretched dress,
A wretched insult on you, dumbly speaks
Your story, that this man loves you no more.
Your beauty is no beauty to him now:
A common chance--right well I know it--palled--
For I know men: nor will ye win him back,
For the man's love once gone never returns.
But here is one who loves you as of old;
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