| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Maid Marian by Thomas Love Peacock: for Prince John commands all this vicinity, and will doubtless lay the country
for you and Marian. Now it is first expedient to dismiss your retainers.
If there be any among them who like our life, they may stay with us
in the greenwood; the rest may return to their homes."
Some of the baron's men resolved to remain with Robin and Marian,
and were furnished accordingly with suits of green, of which Robin
always kept good store.
Marian now declared that as there was danger in the way to Barnsdale,
she would accompany Little John and the baron, as she should not
be happy unless she herself saw her father placed in security.
Robin was very unwilling to consent to this, and assured
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Cratylus by Plato: (hurtful).
HERMOGENES: Good.
SOCRATES: The word blaberon is that which is said to hinder or harm
(blaptein) the stream (roun); blapton is boulomenon aptein (seeking to hold
or bind); for aptein is the same as dein, and dein is always a term of
censure; boulomenon aptein roun (wanting to bind the stream) would properly
be boulapteroun, and this, as I imagine, is improved into blaberon.
HERMOGENES: You bring out curious results, Socrates, in the use of names;
and when I hear the word boulapteroun I cannot help imagining that you are
making your mouth into a flute, and puffing away at some prelude to Athene.
SOCRATES: That is the fault of the makers of the name, Hermogenes; not
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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 Lucile by Owen Meredith: XXVIII.
Her voice reach'd his heart,
And sank lower. She spoke of herself: how, apart
And unseen,--far away,--she had watch'd, year by year,
With how many a blessing, how many a tear,
And how many a prayer, every stage in the strife:
Guess'd the thought in the deed: traced the love in the life:
Bless'd the man in the man's work!
"THY work . . . oh, not mine!
Thine, Lucile!" . . . he exclaim'd . . . "all the worth of it thine,
If worth there be in it!"
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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 United States Bill of Rights: or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
II
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war,
but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
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