| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde: For oftentimes methinks I feel my veins
Beat with the blood of kings. Was he a king?
MORANZONE
Ay, of all men he was the kingliest.
GUIDO
[proudly] Then when you saw my noble father last
He was set high above the heads of men?
MORANZONE
Ay, he was high above the heads of men,
[Walks over to GUIDO and puts his hand upon his shoulder.]
On a red scaffold, with a butcher's block
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: later had stepped over the beast.
Thuvan Dihn followed directly after me, and another moment
found us at the further door, undetected.
The Carrion Caves consist of a series of twenty-seven
connecting chambers, and present the appearance of having been
eroded by running water in some far-gone age when a mighty river
found its way to the south through this single breach in the
barrier of rock and ice that hems the country of the pole.
The Warlord of Mars |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Eryxias by Platonic Imitator: riches are a good, tell us what, in his opinion, is wealth.
ERASISTRATUS: Indeed, Socrates, I have no notion about wealth beyond that
which men commonly have. I suppose that wealth is a quantity of money
(compare Arist. Pol.); and this, I imagine, would also be Critias'
definition.
SOCRATES: Then now we have to consider, What is money? Or else later on
we shall be found to differ about the question. For instance, the
Carthaginians use money of this sort. Something which is about the size of
a stater is tied up in a small piece of leather: what it is, no one knows
but the makers. A seal is next set upon the leather, which then passes
into circulation, and he who has the largest number of such pieces is
|
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 Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: Ravenswood; still her contract," she said, "was a binding
contract, and she neither would nor could resign it without the
consent of Ravenswood. Let me be assured," she concluded, "that
he will free me from my engagement, and dispose of me as you
please, I care not how. When the diamonds are gone, what
signifies the casket?"
The tone of obstinacy with which this was said, her eyes
flashingt with unnatural light, and her hands firmly clenched,
precluded the possibility of dispute; and the utmost length which
Lady Ashton's art could attain, only got her the privilege of
dictating the letter, by which her daughter required to know of
The Bride of Lammermoor |
