| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Catherine de Medici by Honore de Balzac: Christophe opened his eyes very wide as he heard his father talking
thus; but he thought there might be some parental trap in it, and he
made no reply further than to say:--
"Well, make out the bill, and write a letter to the queen; I must
start at once, or the greatest misfortunes may happen."
"Start? How?"
"I shall buy a horse. Write at once, in God's name."
"Hey! mother! give your son some money," cried the furrier to his
wife.
The mother returned, went to her chest, took out a purse of gold, and
gave it to Christophe, who kissed her with emotion.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Under the Andes by Rex Stout: the strength I had.
"I've got him--through the belly," Harry gasped as I fought my
way through the spray to his side. "His head! Find his head!"
I finally succeeded in getting my hand on Harry's spear-shaft
near where it entered the body of the fish; but the next instant it
was jerked from me, dragging me beneath the surface. I came up
puffing and made another try, but missed it by several feet.
Harry kept shouting: "His head! Get him in the head!"
For that I was saving my spear. But I could make nothing of
either head or tail as the immense fish leaped furiously about in
the water, first this way, then that.
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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 On Revenues by Xenophon: ranks],[7] it would add a positive lustre to our city, were it
admitted that the men of Athens, her sons, have reliance on themselves
rather than on foreigners to fight her battles. And further, supposing
we offered our resident aliens a share in various other honourable
duties, including the cavalry service,[8] I shall be surprised if we
do not increase the goodwill of the aliens themselves, whilst at the
same time we add distinctly to the strength and grandeur of our city.
[1] Lit. "metics" or "metoecs."
[2] {misthos}, e.g. of the assembly, the senate, and the dicasts.
[3] The {metoikion}. See Plat. "Laws," 850 B; according to Isaeus, ap.
Harpocr. s.v., it was 12 drachmae per annum for a male and 6
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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 Historical Lecturers and Essays by Charles Kingsley: brain, which I have in common with apes and dogs and horses. I am a
man--thou art a man or woman--not because we have a flesh--God
forbid! but because there is a spirit in us, a divine spark and ray,
which nature did not give, and which nature cannot take away. And
therefore, while I live on earth, I will live to the spirit, not to
the flesh, that I may be, indeed, a man; and this same gross flesh,
this animal ape-nature in me, shall be the very element in me which
I will renounce, defy, despise; at least, if I am minded to be, not
a merely higher savage, but a truly higher civilised man.
Civilisation with me shall mean, not more wealth, more finery, more
self-indulgence--even more aesthetic and artistic luxury; but more
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