| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: father, is it always wrong for man to slay man?"
The good priest sat silent for so long a time that Myles began to
think he had not heard the question. But by-and-by he answered,
almost with a sigh, "It is a hard question, my son, but I must in
truth say, meseems it is not always wrong."
"Sir," said Myles, "I have been in battle when men were slain,
but never did I think thereon as I have upon this matter. Did I
sin in so slaying my father's enemy?"
"Nay," said Prior Edward, quietly, "thou didst not sin. It was
for others thou didst fight, my son, and for others it is
pardonable to do battle. Had it been thine own quarrel, it might
Men of Iron |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lucile by Owen Meredith: Now and then seem'd to show where their thoughts touch'd. Meanwhile
The muse of this story, convinced that they need her,
To the Duke and Matilda returns, gentle Reader.
XX.
The Duke with that sort of aggressive false praise
Which is meant a resentful remonstrance to raise
From a listener (as sometimes a judge, just before
He pulls down the black cap, very gently goes o'er
The case for the prisoner, and deals tenderly
With the man he is minded to hang by and by),
Had referr'd to Lucile, and then stopp'd to detect
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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 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Mer. I will bite thee by the eare for that iest
Rom. Nay, good Goose bite not
Mer. Thy wit is a very Bitter-sweeting,
It is a most sharpe sawce
Rom. And is it not well seru'd into a Sweet-Goose?
Mer. Oh here's a wit of Cheuerell, that stretches from
an ynch narrow, to an ell broad
Rom. I stretch it out for that word, broad, which added
to the Goose, proues thee farre and wide, abroad Goose
Mer. Why is not this better now, then groning for
Loue, now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo: now art
Romeo and Juliet |
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 An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde: SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [Entering.] Your carriage is here, Mm
Cheveley!
MRS. CHEVELEY. Thanks! Good evening, Lady Chiltern! Good-night,
Lord Goring! I am at Claridge's. Don't you think you might leave a
card?
LORD GORING. If you wish it, Mrs. Cheveley!
MRS. CHEVELEY. Oh, don't be so solemn about it, or I shall be
obliged to leave a card on you. In England I suppose that would
hardly be considered EN REGLE. Abroad, we are more civilised. Will
you see me down, Sir Robert? Now that we have both the same
interests at heart we shall be great friends, I hope!
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