| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Sportsman by Xenophon: [25] Al. "so as to press into the foot, if the wooden ones yield."
[26] Or, "27 inches x 3."
To set the trap, dig a hole in the soil to a depth of fifteen
inches,[27] circular in shape, with a circumference at the top exactly
corresponding to the crown and narrowing towards the bottom. For the
rope and wooden clog likewise remove sufficient earth to let them both
be lightly buried. That done, place the foot-gin deep enough to be
just even with the surface of the soil,[28] and round the circle of
the crown the cord-noose. The cord itself and wooden clog must now be
lowered into their respective places. Which done, place on the crown
some rods of spindle-tree,[29] but not so as to stick out beyond the
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Glaucus/The Wonders of the Shore by Charles Kingsley: innumerable arms striped and ringed with various shades of grey and
brown. Shall we get them? By all means if we can. Touch one.
Where is he now? Gone? Vanished into air, or into stone? Not
quite. You see that knot of sand and broken shell lying on the
rock, where your Dahlia was one moment ago. Touch it, and you will
find it leathery and elastic. That is all which remains of the
live Dahlia. Never mind; get your finger into the crack under him,
work him gently but firmly out, and take him home, and he will be
as happy and as gorgeous as ever to-morrow.
Let your Actiniae stand for a day or two in the dish, and then,
picking out the liveliest and handsomest, detach them once more
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Macbeth by William Shakespeare: Malc. Mercifull Heauen:
What man, ne're pull your hat vpon your browes:
Giue sorrow words; the griefe that do's not speake,
Whispers the o're-fraught heart, and bids it breake
Macd. My Children too?
Ro. Wife, Children, Seruants, all that could be found
Macd. And I must be from thence? My wife kil'd too?
Rosse. I haue said
Malc. Be comforted.
Let's make vs Med'cines of our great Reuenge,
To cure this deadly greefe
Macbeth |
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 Lucile by Owen Meredith: Is not fairer; for even in the pure world of flowers
Her symbol is not, and this pure world of ours
Has no second Matilda! For whom? Let that pass!
'Tis not I, 'tis not you, that can name her, alas!
And I dare not question or judge her. But why,
Why cherish the cause of your own misery?
Why think of one, lady, who thinks not of you?
Why be bound by a chain which himself he breaks through?
And why, since you have but to stretch forth your hand,
The love which you need and deserve to command,
Why shrink? Why repel it?"
|
