| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lucile by Owen Meredith: You the hero, whose life hath perchance been led on
Through the deeds it hath wrought to the fame it hath won,
By recalling the visions and dreams of a youth,
Such as lies at your door now: who have but, in truth,
To stretch forth a hand, to speak only one word,
And by that word you rescue a life!"
He was stirr'd.
Still he sought to put from him the cup, bow'd his face
on his hand; and anon, as though wishing to chase
With one angry gesture his own thoughts aside,
He sprang up, brush'd past her, and bitterly cried,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx: is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober
senses,
his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind.
The need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases
the bourgeoisie over the whole surface of the globe. It must
nestle
everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connexions everywhere.
The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world-market
given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in
every country. To the great chagrin of Reactionists, it has
drawn from under the feet of industry the national ground on
The Communist Manifesto |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Rinkitink In Oz by L. Frank Baum: Perhaps it would have been wise for the Prince to
have explained about the magic pearls, but at that
moment he was not inclined to do so. Instead, he
replied:
"Be patient, Your Majesty. The secret is not my own,
so please do not ask me to divulge it. Is it not
enough, for the present, that the magic saved you from
death to-day?"
"Do not think me ungrateful," answered the King
earnestly. "A million spears fell on me from the wall,
and several stones as big as mountains, yet none of
Rinkitink In Oz |
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 Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: with might and main. It was met with a jarring blow that made his
wrist and arm tingle, and the next instant he received a stroke
upon the bascinet that caused his ears to ring and the sparks to
dance. and fly before his eyes.
"Pardee!" said Sir James, grimly. "An I had had a mace in my
hand, I would have knocked thy cockerel brains out that time.
Thou mayst take that blow for answering me so pertly. And now we
are quits. Now strike me the stroke again an thou art not
afeard."
Myles's eyes watered in spite of himself, and he shut the lids
tight to wink the dimness away. Nevertheless he spoke up
Men of Iron |
