| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: of his sports, made his appearance. The stout, weather-beaten
forester showed great signs of joy when he recognized Tressilian.
"Lord love you," he said, "Master Edmund, be it thou in flesh and
fell? Then thou mayest do some good on Sir Hugh, for it passes
the wit of man--that is, of mine own, and the curate's, and
Master Mumblazen's--to do aught wi'un."
"Is Sir Hugh then worse since I went away, Will?" demanded
Tressilian.
"For worse in body--no; he is much better," replied the domestic;
"but he is clean mazed as it were--eats and drinks as he was
wont--but sleeps not, or rather wakes not, for he is ever in a
Kenilworth |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Hidden Masterpiece by Honore de Balzac: "we need faith; faith in art. We must live with our work for years
before we can produce a creation like that. Some of these shadows have
cost me endless toil. See, there on her cheek, below the eyes, a faint
half-shadow; if you observed it in Nature you might think it could
hardly be rendered. Well, believe me, I took unheard-of pains to
reproduce that effect. My dear Porbus, look attentively at my work,
and you will comprehend what I have told you about the manner of
treating form and outline. Look at the light on the bosom, and see how
by a series of touches and higher lights firmly laid on I have managed
to grasp light itself, and combine it with the dazzling whiteness of
the clearer tones; and then see how, by an opposite method,--smoothing
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Herland by Charlotte Gilman: we are cooped up as helpless as a bunch of three-year-old orphans,
and being taught what they think is necessary--whether we like it
or not. Confound their old-maid impudence!"
Nevertheless we were taught. They brought in a raised map
of their country, beautifully made, and increased our knowledge
of geographical terms; but when we inquired for information as
to the country outside, they smilingly shook their heads.
They brought pictures, not only the engravings in the books
but colored studies of plants and trees and flowers and birds.
They brought tools and various small objects--we had plenty of
"material" in our school.
Herland |
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 Memorabilia by Xenophon: Pist. It cannot fit at all.
You mean (Socrates continued) that it is not the exactly-modelled
corselet which fits, but that which does not gall the wearer in the
using?
Pist. There, Socrates, you have hit the very point. I see you
understand the matter most precisely.[14]
[14] Or, "There, Socrates, you have hit the very phrase. I could not
state the matter more explicitly myself."
XI
There was once in the city a fair woman named Theodote.[1] She was not
only fair, but ready to consort with any suitor who might win her
The Memorabilia |
