| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: enjoys refreshing slumber, so the weary one lays himself down to rest
before the gates of death, and sleeps soundly, as though a toilsome journey
yet lay before him.--One word more,--I know a maiden; thou wilt not
despise her because she was mine. Since I can recommend her to thy care,
I shall die in peace. Thy soul is noble; in such a man, a woman is sure to
find a protector. Lives my old Adolphus? Is he free?
Ferdinand. The active old man, who always attended thee on horseback?
Egmont. The same.
Ferdinand. He lives, he is free.
Egmont. He knows her dwelling; let him guide thy steps thither, and
reward him to his dying day, for having shown thee the way to this jewel.-
Egmont |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather: for the weather was dark and stormy,
and there was little light, even in the streets.
A foot of snow had fallen during the morning,
and the wide space over the river was
thick with flying flakes that fell and
wreathed the masses of floating ice.
Winifred was standing by the window when
she heard the front door open. She hurried
to the hall as Alexander came stamping in,
covered with snow. He kissed her joyfully
and brushed away the snow that fell on her hair.
Alexander's Bridge |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Heroes by Charles Kingsley: been when they sailed from Iolcos, in the bloom of their
youth, long ago?'
Then they went out to the garden; and the merchant princes
said, 'Heroes, run races with us. Let us see whose feet are
nimblest.'
'We cannot race against you, for our limbs are stiff from
sea; and we have lost our two swift comrades, the sons of the
north wind. But do not think us cowards: if you wish to try
our strength, we will shoot, and box, and wrestle, against
any men on earth.'
And Alcinous smiled, and answered, 'I believe you, gallant
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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 Eryxias by Platonic Imitator: would declare that you were richer than Callias the son of Hipponicus. And
yet, although you claimed to be wiser about things of real importance, you
would not any the more be richer than he.
I dare say, Eryxias, I said, that you may regard these arguments of ours as
a kind of game; you think that they have no relation to facts, but are like
the pieces in the game of draughts which the player can move in such a way
that his opponents are unable to make any countermove. (Compare Republic.)
And perhaps, too, as regards riches you are of opinion that while facts
remain the same, there are arguments, no matter whether true or false,
which enable the user of them to prove that the wisest and the richest are
one and the same, although he is in the wrong and his opponents are in the
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