| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: I despaired, at first, said the corporal, of being able to bring back your
honour any kind of intelligence concerning the poor sick lieutenant--Is he
in the army, then? said my uncle Toby--He is, said the corporal--And in
what regiment? said my uncle Toby--I'll tell your honour, replied the
corporal, every thing straight forwards, as I learnt it.--Then, Trim, I'll
fill another pipe, said my uncle Toby, and not interrupt thee till thou
hast done; so sit down at thy ease, Trim, in the window-seat, and begin thy
story again. The corporal made his old bow, which generally spoke as plain
as a bow could speak it--Your honour is good:--And having done that, he sat
down, as he was ordered,--and begun the story to my uncle Toby over again
in pretty near the same words.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: seemed like play, while the play around them seemed like work.
Indeed, most people on the Avenue seemed to be happy in inverse
ratio to their income list.
As our youths and maidens passed the hotel, a group of French
naval officers strolled forth, some of whom had a good deal of
inexplicable gold lace dangling in festoons from their
shoulders,--"topsail halyards" the American midshipmen called
them. Philip looked hard at one of these gentlemen.
"I have seen that young fellow before," said he, "or his twin
brother. But who can swear to the personal identity of a
Frenchman?"
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Gorgias by Plato: to his own clique of friends. He will pledge himself to retract any error
into which he may have fallen, and which Callicles may point out. But he
would like to know first of all what he and Pindar mean by natural justice.
Do they suppose that the rule of justice is the rule of the stronger or of
the better?' 'There is no difference.' Then are not the many superior to
the one, and the opinions of the many better? And their opinion is that
justice is equality, and that to do is more dishonourable than to suffer
wrong. And as they are the superior or stronger, this opinion of theirs
must be in accordance with natural as well as conventional justice. 'Why
will you continue splitting words? Have I not told you that the superior
is the better?' But what do you mean by the better? Tell me that, and
|
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 Young Forester by Zane Grey: of Herky-Jerky leaning back on the taut lasso. Then I plunged down, slid
over the rocks, and went souse into the spring.
X. ESCAPE
Down, down I plunged, and the shock of the icy water seemed to petrify me.
I should have gone straight to the bottom like a piece of lead but for the
lasso. It tightened around my chest, and began to haul me up.
I felt the air and the light, and opened my eyes to see Herky-Jerky hauling
away on the rope. When he caught sight of me he looked as if ready to dodge
behind the bank.
"Whar's my gun?" he yelled.
I had dropped it in the spring. He let the lasso sag, and I had to swim.
The Young Forester |
