| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Walking by Henry David Thoreau: solitary phenomenon, never to happen again, but that it would
happen forever and ever, an infinite number of evenings, and
cheer and reassure the latest child that walked there, it was
more glorious still.
The sun sets on some retired meadow, where no house is visible,
with all the glory and splendor that it lavishes on cities, and
perchance as it has never set before--where there is but a
solitary marsh hawk to have his wings gilded by it, or only a
musquash looks out from his cabin, and there is some little
black-veined brook in the midst of the marsh, just beginning to
meander, winding slowly round a decaying stump. We walked in so
Walking |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson: minting that is other than the way that ye believe it. As for
yoursel', ye seem to me rather a dacent-like young man. But me, that's
aulder and mair judeecious, see perhaps a wee bit further forrit in the
job than what ye can dae. And here the maitter clear and plain to ye.
There'll be nae skaith to yoursel' if I keep ye here; far free that, I
think ye'll be a hantle better by it. There'll be nae skaith to the
kintry - just ae mair Hielantman hangit - Gude kens, a guid riddance!
On the ither hand, it would be considerable skaith to me if I would let
you free. Sae, speakin' as a guid Whig, an honest freen' to you, and
an anxious freen' to my ainsel', the plain fact is that I think ye'll
just have to bide here wi' Andie an' the solans."
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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 Prince Otto by Robert Louis Stevenson: same day that we snatch it for ourselves; and the republic will be
all the stronger to resist, if the kings of Europe should band
themselves together to reduce it.' I know not which of the two I
should admire the more: the simplicity of the multitude or the
audacity of the adventurer. But such are the subtleties, such the
quibbling reasons, with which he blinds and leads this people. How
long a course so tortuous can be pursued with safety I am incapable
of guessing; not long, one would suppose; and yet this singular man
has been treading the mazes for five years, and his favour at court
and his popularity among the lodges still endure unbroken.
I have the privilege of slightly knowing him. Heavily and somewhat
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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 Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs: hideous countenance. He spoke a few words to the assembled
warriors, and in an instant the men were flying through the
little village searching minutely every hut and corner within
the palisades.
Scarcely had the search commenced than the overturned
cauldron was discovered, and with it the theft of the poisoned
arrows. Nothing more they found, and it was a thoroughly
awed and frightened group of savages which huddled around
their king a few moments later.
Mbonga could explain nothing of the strange events that
had taken place. The finding of the still warm body of
Tarzan of the Apes |
