| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Timaeus by Plato: which they speak. What is spoken of the unchanging or intelligible must be
certain and true; but what is spoken of the created image can only be
probable; being is to becoming what truth is to belief. And amid the
variety of opinions which have arisen about God and the nature of the world
we must be content to take probability for our rule, considering that I,
who am the speaker, and you, who are the judges, are only men; to
probability we may attain but no further.
SOCRATES: Excellent, Timaeus, I like your manner of approaching the
subject--proceed.
TIMAEUS: Why did the Creator make the world?...He was good, and therefore
not jealous, and being free from jealousy he desired that all things should
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw: BENTLEY. Yes: it's terror, sheer terror. I can hardly see. I can
hardly stand. But I'll go with you.
LINA. _[slapping him on the back and knocking a ghastly white smile
into his face]_ You shall. I like you, my boy. We go tomorrow,
together.
BENTLEY. Yes: together: tomorrow.
TARLETON. Well, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Read
the old book.
MRS TARLETON. Is there anything else?
TARLETON. Well, I--er _[he addresses Lina, and stops]._ I--er _[he
addresses Lord Summerhays, and stops]._ I--er _[he gives it up]._
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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 Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: because there was a snag in the fairway. Sticks, little sticks,
were flying about--thick: they were whizzing before my nose,
dropping below me, striking behind me against my pilot-house.
All this time the river, the shore, the woods, were very quiet--
perfectly quiet. I could only hear the heavy splashing
thump of the stern-wheel and the patter of these things.
We cleared the snag clumsily. Arrows, by Jove!
We were being shot at! I stepped in quickly to close
the shutter on the landside. That fool-helmsman, his hands
on the spokes, was lifting his knees high, stamping his feet,
champing his mouth, like a reined-in horse. Confound him!
Heart of Darkness |
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 Desert Gold by Zane Grey: had fallen asleep again. Mrs. Belding said the girl had suffered
no great hardship, other than mental, and would very soon be
rested and well.
"Now, Gale," said Belding, when his wife had excused herself to
get supper, "the boys, Jim and Laddy, told me about you and the
mix-up at Casita. I'll be glad to take care of the girl till it's
safe for your soldier friend to get her out of the country. That
won't be very soon, don't mistake me....I don't want to seem
over-curious about you--Laddy has interested me in you--and
straight out I'd like to know what you propose to do now."
"I haven't any plans," replied Dick; and, taking the moment as
Desert Gold |
