| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain: If he considered his knightly honor at stake here, that
was the end of argument; he would stay, and nothing
could prevent it; I was aware of that. And so I
dropped the subject. The woman spoke:
"Fair sir, of your kindness will ye climb the ladder
there, and bring me news of what ye find? Be not
afraid to report, for times can come when even a
mother's heart is past breaking -- being already broke."
"Abide," said the king, "and give the woman to
eat. I will go." And he put down the knapsack.
I turned to start, but the king had already started.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lysis by Plato: upon a slight acquaintance, when we have seen him again, and under
different circumstances, may make a much less favourable impression on our
minds. Young people swear 'eternal friendships,' but at these innocent
perjuries their elders laugh. No one forms a friendship with the intention
of renouncing it; yet in the course of a varied life it is practically
certain that many changes will occur of feeling, opinion, locality,
occupation, fortune, which will divide us from some persons and unite us to
others. 6) There is an ancient saying, Qui amicos amicum non habet. But
is not some less exclusive form of friendship better suited to the
condition and nature of man? And in those especially who have no family
ties, may not the feeling pass beyond one or a few, and embrace all with
Lysis |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: that you are not the king he has offered the evidence of
your own denials--made not only to his officers and soldiers,
but to the man who is now your loyal lieutenant, Butzow, and
to the Princess Emma von der Tann, my daughter.
"He insists that he is fighting for the welfare of Lutha,
while we are traitors, attempting to seat an impostor upon
the throne of the dead Leopold. I will admit that we are at
a loss, your majesty, to know where lies the truth and where
the falsity in this matter.
"We seek only to serve our country and our king but
there are those among us who, to be entirely frank, are not
The Mad King |
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 Reign of King Edward the Third by William Shakespeare: Is to surrender ere he be constrained.
A voluntary mischief hath less scorn,
Than when reproach with violence is borne.
LORRAIN.
Degenerate Traitor, viper to the place
Where thou was fostered in thine infancy,
Bearest thou a part in this conspiracy?
[He draws his sword.]
KING EDWARD.
Lorrain, behold the sharpness of this steel:
[Drawing his.]
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