| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: I am not sure, however, that the news inspires me with feelings of
unmixed delight. [Rising and going to her.] I am very fond of
you, Cecily; I have liked you ever since I met you! But I am bound
to state that now that I know that you are Mr. Worthing's ward, I
cannot help expressing a wish you were - well, just a little older
than you seem to be - and not quite so very alluring in appearance.
In fact, if I may speak candidly -
CECILY. Pray do! I think that whenever one has anything
unpleasant to say, one should always be quite candid.
GWENDOLEN. Well, to speak with perfect candour, Cecily, I wish
that you were fully forty-two, and more than usually plain for your
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Salome by Oscar Wilde: IOKANAAN. Arriere, fille de Sodome! Ne me touchez pas. Il ne faut
pas profaner le temple du Seigneur Dieu.
SALOME. Tes cheveux sont horribles. Ils sont couverts de boue et
de poussiere. On dirait une couronne d'epines qu'on a placee sur
ton front. On dirait un noeud de serpents noirs qui se tortillent
autour de ton cou. Je n'aime pas tes cheveux . . . C'est de ta
bouche que je suis amoureuse, Iokanaan. Ta bouche est comme une
bande d'ecarlate sur une tour d'ivoire. Elle est comme une pomme de
grenade coupee par un couteau d'ivoire. Les fleurs de grenade qui
fleurissent dans les jardins de Tyr et sont plus rouges que les
roses, ne sont pas aussi rouges. Les cris rouges des trompettes qui
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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 The Memorabilia by Xenophon: objects of need, but with the sources also of our joy and gladness?[9]
[8] Cf. Plat. "Laws," 747 D.
[9] Or, "pleasure."
Yes (he answered earerly), these things bear token truly to a love for
man.[10]
[10] Cf. Plat. "Laws," 713 D; "Symp." 189 D. "These things are signs
of a beneficient regard for man."
Soc. Well, and what of another priceless gift, that of water, which
conspires with earth and the seasons to give both birth and increase
to all things useful to us; nay, which helps to nurture our very
selves, and commingling with all that feeds us, renders it more
The Memorabilia |
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 A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: His fear in some degree communicated itself to Captain Dalgetty,
who began to repeat, in a sort of polyglot gibberish, all the
exorcisms he had ever heard of, without being able to remember
more than a word or two of each.
"IN NOMINE DOMINI, as we said at Mareschal-College--SANTISSMA
MADRE DI DIOS, as the Spaniard has it--ALLE GUTEN GEISTER LOBEN
DEN HERRN, saith the blessed Psalmist, in Dr. Luther's
translation--"
"A truce with your exorcisms," said the voice they had heard
before; "though I come strangely among you, I am mortal like
yourselves, and my assistance may avail you in your present
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